An ansvver to Dr. Stillingfleet's Mischief of separation being a letter written out of the countrey to a person of quality in the city. Who took offence at the late sermon of Dr. Stillingfleet, Dean of S. Pauls; before the lord mayor.
         Howe, John, 1630-1705.
      
       
         
           1680
        
      
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             An ansvver to Dr. Stillingfleet's Mischief of separation being a letter written out of the countrey to a person of quality in the city. Who took offence at the late sermon of Dr. Stillingfleet, Dean of S. Pauls; before the lord mayor.
             Howe, John, 1630-1705.
          
           
             The second edition.
          
           [2], 53, [1] p.
           
             printed by S.W. and sold by S. Tydmarsh, at the sign of the Kings Head in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange,
             London :
             1680.
          
           
             By John Howe.
             On p. [1] at end: London, printed for Samuel Walsall, at the Golden Frying-Pan in Leaden-Hall-Street, 1680.
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. -- Mischief of separation -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           AN
           ANSVVER
           TO
           Dr.
           STILLINGFLEET'S
           Mischief
           of
           Separation
           ,
           BEING
           A
           LETTER
           Written
           out
           of
           the
           COUNTREY
           TO
           A
           PERSON
           of
           QUALITY
           in
           the
           CITY
           .
           Who
           took
           Offence
           at
           the
           late
           SERMON
           of
           Dr.
           Stillingfleet
           ,
           Dean
           of
           S.
           Pauls
           ;
           Before
           the
           LORD
           MAYOR
           .
        
         
           The
           Second
           Edition
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             S.
             W.
          
           and
           sold
           by
           
             S.
             Tydmarsh
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Sign
           of
           the
           
             Kings
             Head
          
           in
           Cornhill
           ,
           near
           the
           
             Royal
             Exchange
          
           :
           1680.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           LETTER
           Written
           out
           of
           the
           COUNTREY
           TO
           A
           Person
           of
           Quality
           in
           the
           CITY
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           I
           Perceive
           your
           Mind
           is
           disturb'd
           ,
           which
           my
           Friendship
           with
           you
           can
           no
           more
           let
           me
           be
           unconcern'd
           for
           ,
           than
           if
           I
           heard
           you
           were
           sick
           ;
           nor
           less
           to
           study
           your
           Relief
           .
           Such
           may
           be
           the
           Cause
           and
           Measure
           of
           your
           Passion
           ,
           and
           such
           the
           disproportion
           between
           the
           One
           and
           the
           Other
           ,
           as
           to
           need
           it
           a
           great
           deal
           more
           ,
           though
           yet
           perhaps
           to
           deserve
           it
           less
           .
           For
           your
           sickness
           might
           be
           your
           infelicity
           only
           ,
           but
           a
           perturbation
           that
           exceeds
           its
           Cause
           ,
           cannot
           but
           be
           your
           fault
           .
           Which
           kind
           of
           Evil
           ,
           
           though
           it
           be
           much
           greater
           ,
           and
           therefore
           needs
           more
           application
           for
           the
           removing
           of
           it
           ;
           yet
           it
           can
           challenge
           less
           help
           from
           another
           ,
           because
           you
           are
           your
           own
           Afflicter
           ,
           and
           may
           ,
           when
           you
           please
           cure
           your self
           ,
           which
           no
           man
           else
           can
           do
           for
           you
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           another
           may
           contribute
           towards
           it
           ,
           by
           laying
           before
           you
           apt
           Considerations
           which
           you
           are
           your self
           to
           apply
           ,
           you
           know
           you
           are
           to
           expect
           it
           from
           no
           mans
           good
           will
           more
           than
           mine
           .
           If
           indeed
           you
           expect
           much
           from
           my
           Ability
           ,
           that
           is
           another
           Fault
           ,
           entirely
           your
           own
           ,
           and
           whereto
           you
           could
           have
           no
           temptation
           .
        
         
           Thus
           much
           I
           shall
           freely
           profess
           to
           you
           that
           I
           have
           a
           great
           value
           of
           an
           equal
           temper
           and
           composure
           of
           mind
           ,
           not
           apt
           to
           be
           unduly
           mov'd
           ,
           or
           entertain
           any
           thing
           that
           occurs
           with
           indecent
           perturbation
           ,
           or
           other
           resentment
           than
           is
           due
           and
           suitable
           to
           the
           occasion
           :
           And
           desire
           it
           more
           than
           either
           to
           be
           in
           the
           best
           external
           circumstances
           ,
           or
           not
           to
           be
           in
           the
           worst
           .
           As
           I
           wish
           for
           my self
           ,
           I
           wish
           for
           you
           ;
           and
           therefore
           am
           willing
           to
           place
           my
           endeavour
           accordingly
           ,
           where
           it
           may
           be
           in
           a
           possibility
           of
           effecting
           somewhat
           to
           your
           advantage
           ,
           and
           where
           it
           is
           most
           desirable
           it
           should
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           present
           case
           ,
           the
           Fault
           I
           find
           with
           you
           is
           ,
           that
           your
           resentment
           of
           the
           matter
           you
           complain
           of
           ,
           is
           undue
           ,
           and
           
             not
             proportionable
             to
             the
             occasion
          
           .
           And
           whereas
           you
           seem
           to
           labour
           under
           the
           Distemper
           and
           excess
           of
           a
           twofold
           Passion
           ,
           
             of
             Fear
          
           ,
           lest
           a
           just
           and
           good
           Cause
           (
           as
           you
           and
           I
           do
           both
           account
           )
           should
           suffer
           some
           great
           prejudice
           ,
           by
           this
           opposition
           of
           Dr.
           Stillingfleet
           :
           And
           of
           Anger
           ,
           that
           he
           from
           whom
           better
           things
           might
           have
           been
           expected
           ,
           should
           attempt
           any
           thing
           in
           this
           kind
           .
           I
           shall
           hereupon
           endeavour
           to
           represent
           to
           you
           the
           causlesness
           both
           of
           your
           Fear
           ,
           and
           (
           in
           great
           part
           )
           of
           your
           Anger
           .
        
         
           And
           first
           defend
           the
           Cause
           against
           Dr.
           Stillingfleet
           ,
           and
           
           then
           add
           somewhat
           in
           defence
           of
           Dr.
           Stillingfleet
           against
           you
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           to
           the
           former
           we
           are
           
             
               I.
               To
               give
               the
               plain
               state
               of
               it
               ,
               with
               the
               Doctors
               Judgment
               against
               us
               in
               it
               .
            
             
               II.
               To
               discuss
               the
               Matter
               with
               the
               Doctor
               ,
               and
               shew
               ;
               
                 
                   1.
                   
                   The
                   Indefensibleness
                   of
                   that
                   Judgment
                   .
                
                 
                   2.
                   
                   The
                   Inefficacy
                   of
                   the
                   
                   Doctor
                   's
                   Attempt
                   to
                   Defend
                   it
                   .
                
              
            
          
        
         
           I.
           It
           is
           first
           necessary
           that
           we
           have
           a
           true
           state
           of
           the
           cause
           it self
           before
           our
           Eyes
           ;
           which
           is
           plainly
           this
           ,
        
         
           That
           as
           there
           are
           very
           great
           numbers
           of
           People
           ,
           beyond
           what
           the
           Ministers
           of
           Parishes
           ,
           in
           divers
           places
           ,
           can
           possibly
           perform
           Ministerial
           Duty
           unto
           :
           So
           there
           are
           withal
           very
           many
           that
           cannot
           be
           satisfied
           in
           conscience
           ,
           to
           intrust
           their
           Souls
           and
           their
           Spiritual
           Concernments
           to
           the
           Pastoral
           Care
           and
           Conduct
           of
           the
           Parochial
           Ministry
           only
           ;
           Though
           they
           generally
           have
           a
           very
           reverend
           esteem
           of
           divers
           who
           are
           of
           it
           :
           do
           ,
           many
           of
           them
           ,
           very
           frequently
           partake
           of
           some
           part
           of
           their
           Labours
           ,
           and
           rejoyce
           in
           them
           as
           great
           Ornaments
           and
           real
           Blessings
           to
           the
           Christian
           Church
           .
           But
           these
           are
           very
           unproportionable
           in
           number
           to
           the
           Necessities
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           are
           by
           Legal
           restraints
           ty'd
           up
           
             one
             way
          
           ,
           as
           they
           by
           conscientious
           ,
           are
           another
           ,
           in
           respect
           of
           some
           principal
           parts
           of
           Christian
           
           Worship
           ;
           without
           which
           they
           should
           be
           visibly
           in
           the
           condition
           of
           Pagans
           .
        
         
           There
           are
           also
           many
           persons
           who
           have
           been
           devoted
           to
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           and
           his
           Church
           in
           the
           Ministerial
           Function
           ;
           some
           of
           them
           in
           the
           way
           which
           now
           obtains
           ,
           others
           in
           a
           way
           which
           this
           Reverend
           Author
           did
           not
           disapprove
           ,
           who
           are
           not
           satisfied
           in
           Conscience
           about
           the
           Terms
           upon
           which
           they
           might
           have
           continued
           ,
           or
           may
           be
           admitted
           Parochial
           Incumbents
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           here
           are
           numerous
           Flocks
           scattered
           without
           Pastors
           ,
           here
           are
           many
           Pastors
           without
           Flocks
           .
        
         
           The
           People
           it
           is
           true
           ,
           on
           whose
           behalf
           these
           Papers
           are
           more
           especially
           written
           ,
           are
           in
           this
           destitute
           condition
           by
           their
           own
           scruples
           .
           Nor
           is
           it
           the
           present
           design
           to
           justify
           all
           those
           scruples
           .
           But
           they
           are
           ,
           with
           many
           ,
           of
           long
           continuance
           ,
           and
           ,
           for
           ought
           appears
           ,
           unremoveable
           .
           If
           they
           should
           be
           defer'd
           ,
           and
           bidden
           to
           use
           patience
           ,
           while
           such
           further
           endeavours
           are
           used
           with
           them
           as
           this
           Sermon
           contains
           ,
           yet
           death
           will
           have
           no
           Patience
           ,
           nor
           be
           defer'd
           .
           So
           that
           there
           are
           multitudes
           passing
           into
           eternity
           out
           of
           a
           Christian
           Nation
           ,
           having
           no
           benefit
           of
           Christian
           Ordinances
           ;
           no
           means
           of
           instruction
           in
           the
           Truth
           and
           Doctrines
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           their
           Salvation
           .
        
         
           The
           course
           which
           is
           
             de
             facto
          
           taken
           in
           this
           distress
           for
           their
           relief
           is
           that
           which
           the
           reverend
           Author
           bends
           himself
           against
           in
           this
           Sermon
           .
           And
           there
           are
           two
           sorts
           of
           Persons
           concern'd
           in
           it
           .
           
             The
             People
          
           ;
           who
           ,
           rather
           than
           return
           to
           the
           state
           of
           Paganism
           ,
           implore
           the
           help
           of
           these
           unimploy'd
           Ministers
           ,
           desiring
           them
           to
           perform
           the
           duty
           of
           Christian
           Ministers
           towards
           them
           .
           And
           
             the
             Ministers
          
           ,
           who
           rather
           than
           they
           should
           cease
           to
           be
           Christians
           ,
           or
           
             themselves
             alwaies
          
           cease
           from
           the
           Work
           of
           Ministers
           ,
           comply
           with
           their
           desires
           ;
           and
           ,
           as
           they
           can
           ,
           allow
           them
           their
           desired
           help
           .
        
         
         
           This
           Author
           doth
           more
           directly
           and
           professedly
           speak
           to
           the
           case
           of
           the
           People
           ;
           To
           that
           of
           the
           Ministers
           ,
           only
           by
           way
           of
           Oblique
           reflection
           .
        
         
           You
           and
           I
           ,
           who
           (
           among
           the
           former
           )
           do
           often
           partake
           in
           the
           Worship
           and
           Ordinances
           of
           God
           ,
           in
           the
           separate
           Assemblies
           (
           though
           we
           are
           not
           so
           squeamish
           as
           to
           balk
           the
           Publick
           ,
           nor
           so
           unjust
           and
           ungrateful
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           thank
           God
           for
           the
           excellent
           advantages
           that
           are
           sometimes
           to
           be
           met
           with
           there
           )
           are
           both
           concern'd
           ,
           and
           led
           by
           the
           Doctors
           discourse
           ,
           to
           consider
           what
           is
           said
           as
           to
           this
           case
           of
           ours
           .
           Which
           yet
           I
           would
           have
           us
           consider
           not
           so
           appropriately
           ,
           as
           to
           exclude
           them
           our
           very
           compassionate
           consideration
           ,
           that
           are
           more
           pincht
           and
           confin'd
           to
           narrower
           limits
           ,
           by
           their
           own
           scruples
           ,
           than
           we
           are
           ;
           and
           whose
           Number
           you
           cannot
           but
           apprehend
           to
           be
           so
           great
           ,
           as
           to
           call
           for
           a
           very
           large
           compassion
           in
           considering
           their
           case
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           indeed
           a
           case
           of
           far-prospect
           ,
           and
           which
           lookes
           down
           upon
           after-times
           .
           You
           know
           how
           easily
           it
           may
           be
           deduced
           all
           along
           from
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           English
           Reformation
           ,
           when
           some
           very
           eminent
           among
           our
           Reformers
           were
           not
           well
           satisfi'd
           with
           the
           Ceremonial
           part
           of
           the
           Constitution
           settled
           at
           that
           time
           ;
           How
           an
           unsatisfi'd
           party
           hath
           gradually
           increased
           from
           Age
           to
           Age
           among
           the
           Common
           People
           also
           .
           They
           are
           now
           grown
           very
           numerous
           .
           And
           unless
           some
           very
           over-powring
           impression
           upon
           mens
           minds
           ,
           (
           not
           reasonably
           to
           be
           expected
           according
           to
           common
           measures
           )
           should
           alter
           the
           case
           ,
           it
           is
           still
           likely
           to
           increase
           in
           succeeding
           Ages
           .
        
         
           You
           are
           not
           ignorant
           that
           no
           one
           thing
           is
           more
           commonly
           scrupled
           by
           this
           unsatisfi'd
           Party
           ,
           than
           the
           addition
           of
           that
           federal
           Rite
           in
           the
           dedicating
           of
           their
           Children
           to
           God
           ,
           
             the
             signing
             them
             with
             the
             sign
             of
             the
             Cross
             ,
          
           which
           many
           (
           how
           justly
           or
           unjustly
           I
           am
           not
           now
           to
           discusse
           )
           esteem
           so
           sinful
           a
           practice
           ,
           that
           ,
           rather
           than
           admit
           it
           ,
           they
           will
           choose
           
           not
           to
           offer
           their
           Children
           to
           Baptism
           .
           Nor
           is
           it
           
             in
             it self
          
           of
           less
           weight
           (
           perhaps
           't
           is
           of
           much
           greater
           )
           that
           ,
           
             in
             this
             solemn
             dedication
          
           ,
           they
           have
           no
           opportunity
           of
           performing
           the
           
             Parental
             Duty
          
           ,
           of
           Covenanting
           with
           God
           on
           behalf
           of
           their
           own
           Children
           ,
           but
           
             that
             part
          
           (
           with
           the
           exclusion
           of
           themselves
           )
           is
           to
           be
           done
           
             by
             others
          
           ,
           whom
           God
           hath
           not
           concern'd
           in
           the
           business
           ;
           and
           who
           ,
           after
           the
           solemnity
           is
           over
           ,
           are
           never
           like
           to
           concern
           themselves
           .
           And
           there
           are
           divers
           other
           scruples
           besides
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           this
           ,
           and
           other
           parts
           of
           Worship
           that
           ,
           with
           multitudes
           ,
           are
           in
           no
           great
           probability
           to
           admit
           of
           cure
           .
        
         
           Now
           let
           us
           see
           what
           the
           Reverend
           Doctors
           judgement
           is
           upon
           this
           state
           of
           our
           case
           ,
           who
           dissent
           from
           the
           establisht
           way
           ,
           whether
           
             the
             People
          
           ,
           or
           
             their
             Ministers
          
           ,
           and
           that
           both
           
             concerning
             what
             they
             do
          
           ,
           and
           what
           ,
           by
           consequence
           from
           his
           judgment
           upon
           their
           case
           ,
           
             they
             are
             to
             suffer
          
           .
        
         
           For
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           People
           in
           this
           case
           (
           at
           least
           the
           negative
           part
           of
           it
           )
           he
           hath
           some
           Charity
           in
           his
           Censure
           ,
           for
           in
           their
           declining
           to
           joyn
           in
           the
           Publick
           Assembles
           ,
           he
           beleives
           them
           generally
           to
           practice
           according
           to
           their
           judgement
           as
           he
           professes
           P.
           37.
           of
           his
           Sermon
           .
           For
           the
           Ministers
           ,
           most
           of
           them
           ,
           none
           at
           all
           ,
           who
           as
           he
           saies
           in
           the
           same
           Place
           he
           believes
           go
           against
           theirs
           .
           His
           Words
           are
           ,
           
             I
             dare
             say
             ,
             if
             most
             of
             the
             Preachers
             at
             this
             day
             in
             
               the
               separate
               meetings
            
             were
             soberly
             asked
             their
             judgements
             ,
             whether
             it
             were
             lawful
             for
             the
             People
             to
             joyn
             with
             us
             in
             the
             Publick
             Assemblies
             ,
             they
             would
             not
             deny
             it
             ;
             and
             yet
             the
             People
             that
             frequent
             them
             ,
             generally
             judge
             otherwise
             .
             For
             it
             is
             not
             to
             be
             supposed
             ,
             that
             faction
             among
             them
             should
             so
             commonly
             prevail
             beyond
             interest
             .
          
        
         
           But
           his
           judgement
           concerning
           what
           both
           are
           to
           undergo
           
             is
             eventually
             ▪
          
           and
           
             in
             the
             sequel
          
           ,
           as
           he
           states
           their
           case
           ,
           much
           more
           hard
           in
           respect
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           who
           cannot
           releive
           themselves
           ;
           whereas
           the
           Ministers
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           notion
           he
           hath
           of
           them
           ,
           presently
           may
           .
        
         
         
           We
           are
           to
           attend
           chiefly
           to
           what
           he
           says
           in
           reference
           to
           the
           Lay-people
           ,
           and
           shall
           consider
           ,
           1.
           
           How
           severe
           he
           is
           towards
           them
           ;
           and
           2.
           
           How
           well
           consistent
           he
           is
           therein
           with
           himself
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           
             His
             severity
             towards
             those
             of
             us
          
           in
           respect
           of
           what
           we
           practice
           ,
           
             who
             put
             ourselves
             under
             the
             pastoral
             care
             of
          
           other
           
             than
             the
          
           Parochial
           
             Ministers
             is
             to
             be
             seen
             in
             what
             he
             proposes
             to
             himself
             to
             evince
             ,
          
           P.
           20.
           viz.
           That
           our
           proceeding
           to
           the
           forming
           of
           separate
           Congregations
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           under
           other
           Teachers
           ,
           and
           by
           other
           Rules
           ,
           than
           what
           the
           established
           Religion
           allows
           ,
           is
           the
           present
           case
           of
           separation
           which
           he
           intends
           to
           consider
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           the
           sinfulnefs
           and
           mischief
           of
           it
           appear
           .
           
             He
             doth
             you
             see
             in
             short
             ,
             absolutely
             pronounce
             our
             practice
             in
             this
             case
             to
             be
          
           sinful
           and
           mischievous
           .
        
         
           Now
           it
           is
           hence
           also
           to
           be
           collected
           ,
           how
           hard
           things
           he
           would
           have
           us
           suffer
           upon
           supposition
           of
           our
           only
           remaining
           unsatisfi'd
           to
           joyn
           ourselves
           into
           the
           Parochial
           Communion
           .
           He
           doth
           not
           indeed
           bespeak
           for
           us
           Gibbets
           ,
           Whipping-posts
           ,
           or
           Dungeons
           .
           Nor
           (
           directly
           )
           any
           thing
           grievous
           to
           our
           Flesh.
           But
           to
           such
           as
           consider
           themselves
           to
           have
           souls
           made
           for
           an
           everlasting
           state
           ,
           the
           doom
           which
           his
           words
           imply
           ,
           in
           the
           mentioned
           place
           ,
           cannot
           be
           thought
           gentle
           .
           Which
           that
           you
           may
           apprehend
           the
           more
           distinctly
           ;
           observe
           that
           he
           hath
           nothing
           to
           say
           against
           our
           
             bare
             suspending
             Communion
             in
             some
             particular
             Rites
             which
             we
             modestly
             scruple
             ,
             while
             we
             use
             it
             in
             what
             we
             judge
             lawful
             ,
             p.
          
           20.
           (
           whereas
           p.
           37.
           he
           supposing
           us
           generally
           to
           judge
           it
           unlawful
           to
           joyn
           in
           the
           Publick
           Assemblies
           )
           to
           which
           purpose
           he
           also
           speaks
           in
           his
           
             late
             Dialogues
             p.
          
           171.
           and
           172.
           (
           giving
           his
           Antagonist
           an
           account
           of
           what
           he
           had
           said
           in
           his
           Irenicum
           to
           the
           matter
           now
           in
           discourse
           )
           viz.
           
             That
             some
             scrupulous
             and
             conscientious
             men
             ,
             after
             all
             endeavours
             used
             to
             satisfy
             themselves
             ,
             may
             remain
             unsatisfied
             as
             to
             the
             lawfulness
             of
             some
             imposed
             Rites
             ,
             but
             dare
             not
             proceed
             to
             positive
             separation
             
             from
             the
             Church
             ,
             but
             are
             willing
             to
             comply
             in
             all
             other
             things
             save
             in
             those
             Rites
             which
             they
             still
             scruple
             :
             and
             concerning
             these
             he
             puts
             the
             Question
             ,
             whether
             such
             bare
             Non-conformity
             do
             involve
             such
             men
             in
             the
             Guilt
             of
             Schism
             .
          
           And
           this
           he
           confesses
           he
           resolved
           negatively
           (
           approving
           or
           not
           disavowing
           that
           resolution
           .
           )
           Thus
           far
           indeed
           he
           well
           agrees
           with
           himself
           ;
           and
           seems
           to
           have
           no
           Quarrel
           with
           us
           .
        
         
           But
           consider
           the
           fatal
           consequence
           .
           He
           well
           knows
           that
           if
           we
           suspend
           Communion
           in
           the
           Rite
           of
           the
           Cross
           (
           upon
           our
           never
           so
           modest
           scruple
           )
           we
           connot
           have
           our
           Children
           Ministerially
           dedicated
           to
           God
           in
           the
           Ordinance
           of
           Baptism
           ,
           nor
           be
           so
           ourselves
           ,
           if
           ,
           being
           adult
           ,
           we
           remain
           any
           of
           us
           unabptized
           (
           as
           he
           may
           well
           apprehend
           many
           among
           us
           are
           )
           nor
           if
           we
           decline
           the
           use
           of
           Sponsors
           as
           to
           what
           we
           conceive
           should
           be
           performed
           by
           Parents
           for
           their
           Children
           ,
           and
           by
           adult
           persons
           for
           themselves
           .
           And
           that
           if
           we
           kneel
           not
           before
           the
           consecrated
           Elemens
           at
           the
           Lords
           Table
           ,
           we
           are
           not
           to
           partake
           of
           his
           Holy
           Supper
           .
           Yea
           ,
           and
           what
           if
           we
           scruple
           somewhat
           that
           is
           more
           than
           ritual
           ,
           to
           sit
           under
           the
           Ministery
           of
           a
           noted
           drunkard
           ,
           or
           open
           Enemy
           to
           godliness
           as
           our
           Teacher
           and
           Guide
           ,
           when
           we
           might
           enjoy
           the
           fruitful
           labours
           of
           one
           that
           hath
           not
           
             his
             qualifications
          
           every
           Lords
           day
           ?
           
             No
             ,
             by
             no
             means
          
           ,
           whithout
           limitation
           ,
           or
           the
           supposition
           of
           any
           possible
           case
           wherein
           it
           may
           be
           otherwise
           ,
           a
           meeting
           never
           so
           little
           besides
           the
           established
           course
           ,
           he
           will
           
             make
             appear
             is
             sinful
             and
             mischievous
             ,
          
           and
           not
           tolerable
           upon
           any
           terms
           .
        
         
           What
           then
           would
           he
           have
           us
           do
           ?
           He
           directs
           us
           indeed
           afterward
           to
           the
           endeavour
           of
           satisfaction
           .
           But
           what
           shall
           we
           do
           if
           after
           our
           utmost
           endeavours
           our
           dissatisfaction
           remain
           ?
           What
           ,
           while
           we
           are
           endeavouring
           ?
           which
           may
           be
           all
           our
           days
           in
           vain
           .
           What
           if
           we
           can
           never
           be
           satisfied
           concerning
           the
           established
           way
           of
           Baptism
           for
           ourselves
           and
           our
           Children
           ,
           and
           of
           partaking
           the
           Body
           and
           Blood
           of
           
           our
           Lord
           and
           Saviour
           ?
           Nor
           to
           hear
           or
           give
           Countenance
           to
           such
           a
           ones
           pretending
           to
           Preach
           the
           glorious
           Gospel
           of
           the
           Blessed
           God
           ,
           who
           either
           substantially
           perverts
           and
           depraves
           it
           ,
           or
           whose
           profligate
           life
           proclaims
           him
           an
           opposer
           and
           enemy
           to
           the
           Holy
           Rules
           and
           defin
           of
           it
           ?
           Nor
           to
           commit
           our selves
           to
           the
           pastoral
           care
           and
           charge
           of
           a
           less
           exceptionable
           person
           ,
           yea
           though
           otherwise
           never
           so
           deserving
           ,
           that
           hath
           ty'd
           his
           own
           hands
           ,
           and
           is
           under
           such
           restraints
           that
           he
           cannot
           ,
           or
           so
           disinclin'd
           that
           he
           will
           not
           dispense
           the
           Ordinances
           of
           Christ
           in
           such
           a
           way
           ,
           as
           wherein
           with
           satisfaction
           to
           our
           Consciences
           we
           may
           enioy
           them
           .
        
         
           Read
           over
           the
           Doctors
           Sermon
           again
           ,
           and
           again
           ,
           and
           you
           will
           find
           no
           course
           is
           prescribed
           us
           ,
           but
           to
           sit
           still
           without
           any
           enjoyment
           of
           Christian
           Ordinances
           at
           all
           .
           And
           with
           how
           great
           numbers
           must
           this
           be
           the
           case
           ?
           for
           himself
           professes
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           the
           People
           that
           frequent
           the
           separate
           meetings
           (
           who
           you
           know
           are
           not
           a
           few
           )
           
             do
             generally
          
           judge
           it
           to
           be
           unlawful
           to
           joyn
           in
           the
           Publick
           Assemblies
           .
           And
           are
           we
           alwaies
           to
           sit
           still
           thus
           ?
           That
           is
           to
           exchange
           Visible
           Christianity
           for
           Visible
           (
           at
           least
           negative
           )
           Paganism
           !
        
         
           This
           ,
           if
           you
           take
           the
           whole
           compass
           of
           it
           ,
           is
           a
           thing
           of
           awful
           importance
           ,
           that
           so
           great
           a
           Limb
           of
           a
           Christian
           Nation
           ,
           they
           and
           their
           posterity
           ,
           should
           be
           Paganized
           from
           Age
           to
           Age
           ,
           and
           cut
           off
           from
           the
           whole
           Body
           of
           the
           Christian
           Community
           ,
           only
           because
           they
           scruple
           some
           things
           ,
           the
           least
           exceptionable
           whereof
           are
           no
           part
           of
           the
           Christian
           Institution
           (
           as
           himself
           ,
           and
           they
           whose
           Advocate
           he
           is
           ,
           will
           freely
           confess
           )
           nor
           do
           necessarily
           belong
           to
           it
           ,
           being
           (
           as
           they
           contend
           )
           but
           indifferent
           things
           .
        
         
           He
           seems
           rather
           contented
           we
           should
           not
           be
           Christians
           at
           all
           ,
           than
           not
           to
           be
           Christians
           of
           this
           particular
           mode
           .
           That
           we
           should
           rather
           want
           the
           substance
           of
           Christs
           Gospel
           and
           Sacraments
           ,
           than
           have
           them
           accompany'd
           with
           confessedly
           needless
           additions
           ,
           and
           which
           we
           fear
           to
           be
           forbidden
           us
           by
           their
           Lord
           and
           ours
           .
        
         
         
           We
           do
           sincerely
           profess
           wherein
           we
           decline
           the
           Communion
           he
           invites
           us
           to
           ,
           we
           only
           displease
           him
           ,
           and
           those
           of
           his
           way
           and
           mind
           ,
           out
           of
           a
           real
           fear
           of
           otherwise
           displeasing
           God.
           We
           agree
           with
           them
           in
           far
           greater
           things
           than
           we
           can
           differ
           in
           .
           We
           are
           of
           that
           
             One
             Body
          
           which
           they
           themselves
           profess
           to
           be
           of
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           
             meer
             Christianity
          
           is
           the
           distinction
           ,
           and
           collective
           bond
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           desire
           to
           be
           under
           the
           conduct
           and
           Government
           of
           that
           
             One
             Spirit
          
           .
           We
           are
           called
           with
           them
           in
           that
           
             One
             Hope
          
           of
           our
           calling
           ,
           and
           earnestly
           expect
           (
           whatever
           hard
           thoughts
           they
           have
           of
           us
           )
           to
           meet
           many
           a
           one
           of
           them
           in
           the
           participation
           of
           the
           blessed
           hoped
           end
           of
           that
           calling
           .
           We
           acknowledge
           that
           
             One
             Lord
          
           ,
           that
           
             One
             Faith
          
           ,
           that
           
             One
             Baptism
          
           ,
           (
           or
           Covenant
           which
           the
           Baptism
           of
           our
           Lords
           appointment
           seales
           )
           and
           that
           
             One
             God
          
           and
           Father
           of
           all
           ,
           who
           is
           above
           all
           ,
           and
           through
           all
           ,
           and
           in
           us
           all
           .
           Yet
           because
           we
           cannot
           ,
           we
           dare
           not
           consent
           with
           them
           to
           the
           additions
           which
           belong
           not
           (
           and
           which
           we
           fear
           are
           unduly
           a●fixt
           )
           to
           the
           Religion
           of
           Christians
           ,
           we
           are
           adjudged
           to
           be
           (
           as
           much
           as
           in
           them
           is
           )
           cut
           off
           from
           Christ
           ,
           deprived
           of
           the
           dear
           pledges
           of
           his
           love
           ,
           and
           acquisitions
           of
           his
           Blood
           ,
           
             are
             driven
             out
             from
             the
             inheritance
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
          
           and
           it
           is
           in
           effect
           said
           to
           us
           
             go
             and
             serve
             other
             Gods.
          
           Thus
           far
           the
           severity
           of
           this
           reverend
           Author
           towards
           us
           extends
           .
           Which
           while
           we
           thus
           truely
           represent
           and
           recount
           ,
           let
           us
           also
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Consider
           what
           agreement
           it
           holds
           with
           what
           we
           elsewhere
           observe
           from
           him
           .
           We
           have
           already
           taken
           notice
           ,
           that
           
             for
             our
             bare
             non-conf●rmity
          
           he
           acquits
           us
           of
           the
           guilt
           of
           Schism
           .
           And
           p.
           20.
           of
           this
           Sermon
           ,
           he
           says
           ,
           
             He
             doth
             not
             confound
             
               ba●e
               suspending
               Communion
               in
               some
               particular
               Rites
               ,
            
             which
             persons
             do
             modestly
             scruple
             ,
             and
             using
             it
             in
             what
             they
             judge
             to
             be
             lawful
             ,
             with
             either
             total
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             
               ordinary-forbearance
               of
               Communion
               in
               what
               they
               judge
               to
               be
               lawful
               ;
               and
               proceeding
               to
               the
               forming
               of
               separate
               
               Congregations
               ,
               &c.
               
            
          
           'T
           is
           this
           latter
           he
           severs
           and
           singles
           out
           for
           his
           opposition
           .
           Against
           our
           
             suspending
             Communion
             in
             some
             particular
             Rites
          
           (
           which
           we
           judge
           unlawful
           )
           
             if
             we
             use
             it
             in
             what
             we
             judge
             lawful
             ,
          
           (
           which
           I
           with
           him
           ,
           presume
           the
           Lay-Dissenters
           in
           England
           generally
           do
           ;
           )
           he
           hath
           nothing
           to
           say
           :
           Yea
           ,
           and
           undertaking
           to
           shew
           
             what
             Error
             of
             Conscience
             doth
             excuse
             a
             man
             from
             sin
             ,
             in
             following
             the
             Dictates
             of
             it
          
           ;
           he
           tells
           us
           p.
           44.
           
           That
           
             if
             the
             Error
             be
             wholly
             involuntary
             ,
          
           i.
           e.
           
             If
             it
             be
             caused
             by
             invincible
             ignorance
             ,
          
           (
           which
           he
           thus
           explains
           in
           the
           following
           words
           )
           
             or
             after
             using
             the
             best
             means
             for
             due
             information
             of
             his
             Conscience
             ;
             though
             the
             act
             may
             be
             a
             fault
             in
             it self
             ,
             yet
             it
             shall
             not
             be
             imputed
             to
             him
             for
             a
             sin
             ,
             because
             it
             wanted
             the
             consent
             of
             the
             Mind
             ,
             by
             which
             the
             Will
             is
             determined
             .
          
        
         
           And
           now
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           I
           beseech
           you
           consider
           ,
           1.
           
           When
           he
           confesses
           if
           we
           be
           willing
           to
           be
           satisfied
           ,
           and
           our
           Errour
           be
           involuntary
           ,
           it
           shall
           not
           be
           imputed
           to
           us
           for
           a
           sin
           ;
           Why
           are
           we
           to
           be
           so
           severely
           dealt
           with
           for
           what
           is
           not
           to
           be
           imputed
           to
           us
           for
           a
           sin
           ?
           If
           it
           were
           any
           ,
           methinks
           it
           should
           not
           deserve
           such
           rigor
           at
           the
           hands
           of
           Men
           ,
           that
           are
           themselves
           also
           liable
           to
           Mistakes
           and
           Errors
           .
           Is
           it
           so
           very
           criminal
           ,
           if
           every
           poor
           illiterate
           Dissenter
           in
           England
           (
           Man
           or
           Woman
           )
           cannot
           in
           all
           their
           days
           attain
           to
           a
           better
           and
           more
           settled
           Judgment
           in
           such
           dubious
           matters
           ,
           than
           this
           Reverend
           Person
           had
           himself
           arriv'd
           to
           twenty
           years
           ago
           ?
           Especially
           that
           never
           had
           ,
           or
           were
           capable
           of
           having
           those
           peculiar
           helps
           and
           inducements
           ,
           to
           temper
           and
           reform
           their
           judgments
           that
           he
           hath
           enjoy'd
           .
           'T
           is
           a
           long
           time
           that
           his
           own
           judgment
           hath
           been
           ripening
           to
           that
           maturity
           ,
           as
           ,
           at
           length
           to
           think
           it
           fit
           and
           seasonable
           to
           say
           so
           much
           as
           he
           hath
           ,
           for
           the
           reforming
           of
           ours
           ,
           even
           in
           this
           Sermon
           .
           Methinks
           he
           should
           not
           be
           so
           very
           quick
           and
           hard
           towards
           us
           ,
           upon
           so
           slender
           a
           cause
           ;
           as
           our
           scrupling
           
             some
             particular
             Rites
          
           to
           adjudge
           us
           ,
           and
           ours
           to
           be
           
           totally
           deprived
           of
           Baptism
           ,
           which
           themselves
           count
           necessary
           to
           our
           salvation
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           other
           Ordinances
           of
           Christ
           ,
           which
           they
           do
           not
           think
           unnecessary
           .
        
         
           And
           consider
           secondly
           ,
           Whereas
           he
           says
           ,
           That
           
             if
             a
             man
             erre
             after
             using
             the
             best
             means
             for
             due
             information
             of
             his
             Conscience
             ,
             —
             it
             shall
             not
             be
             imputed
             to
             him
             as
             a
             sin
             .
          
           What
           if
           we
           erre
           this
           Error
           (
           as
           he
           counts
           it
           )
           after
           using
           the
           best
           means
           for
           due
           information
           ;
           [
           that
           we
           ought
           rather
           than
           to
           return
           to
           the
           state
           of
           Paganism
           ,
           to
           bear
           our
           part
           in
           the
           forming
           of
           such
           Meetings
           for
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ,
           as
           wherein
           we
           may
           ,
           with
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           our
           own
           Consciences
           ,
           enjoy
           all
           his
           holy
           Ordinances
           .
           ]
           It
           will
           surely
           be
           within
           the
           compass
           of
           this
           his
           general
           Position
           ,
           and
           not
           be
           imputable
           as
           a
           sin
           .
           Then
           it
           is
           to
           be
           hoped
           we
           should
           rather
           choose
           to
           do
           so
           ,
           then
           Paganize
           our selves
           ,
           or
           live
           in
           the
           wilful
           neglect
           of
           his
           Institutions
           :
           Which
           to
           do
           by
           our
           own
           choice
           ,
           when
           we
           might
           do
           otherwise
           ,
           we
           cannot
           but
           think
           a
           very
           great
           sin
           .
        
         
           If
           here
           the
           Doctor
           should
           assume
           to
           himself
           to
           tell
           us
           not
           only
           that
           we
           erre
           herein
           (
           whereof
           we
           are
           to
           regard
           his
           proof
           ,
           as
           it
           shall
           be
           considered
           by
           and
           by
           ,
           more
           than
           his
           Affirmation
           :
           )
           But
           also
           that
           our
           Error
           is
           wilful
           ,
           we
           shall
           appeal
           from
           him
           to
           one
           that
           better
           knows
           ,
           how
           willingly
           ,
           how
           gladly
           we
           should
           receive
           information
           ,
           and
           admit
           the
           belief
           ,
           that
           we
           ought
           to
           content
           our selves
           entirely
           and
           only
           with
           such
           provisions
           as
           the
           established
           Religion
           ,
           (
           to
           use
           the
           Doctors
           phrase
           )
           allows
           us
           ,
           if
           the
           evidence
           of
           the
           thing
           it self
           did
           not
           seem
           irresistibly
           and
           unavoidably
           to
           perswade
           us
           otherwise
           .
           And
           for
           him
           to
           say
           so
           ,
           were
           but
           to
           suppose
           men
           wilful
           ,
           only
           for
           not
           being
           of
           his
           mind
           ,
           who
           can
           as
           easily
           think
           him
           so
           ,
           for
           not
           being
           of
           theirs
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           cannot
           be
           a
           Question
           between
           the
           Doctor
           and
           us
           ;
           whom
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           taken
           notice
           above
           ,
           he
           hath
           so
           
           far
           obliged
           ,
           as
           to
           admit
           p.
           37.
           
           That
           
             we
             generally
             judge
             as
             we
             practice
             ,
             and
             that
             it
             is
             not
             to
             be
             supposed
             that
             faction
             among
             us
             should
             so
             commonly
             prevail
             beyond
             interest
             .
          
        
         
           But
           since
           this
           appears
           to
           be
           his
           determination
           concerning
           us
           ,
           and
           that
           his
           Assertion
           seems
           positive
           and
           peremptory
           ,
           p.
           20.
           
           [
           That
           in
           this
           our
           case
           ,
           
             to
             proceed
             to
             the
             forming
             of
             Congregations
             under
             other
             Teachers
             ,
             and
             by
             other
             Rules
             than
             what
             the
             establisht
             Religion
             allows
             ,
             where
             a
             sinful
             and
             mischievous
             separation
             .
             ]
          
        
         
           We
           are
           in
           the
           next
           place
           ,
        
         
           2ly
           ,
           To
           discuss
           the
           Matter
           with
           the
           Doctor
           ;
           wherein
           we
           shall
           endeavour
           to
           shew
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           indefensibleness
           of
           the
           Judgment
           the
           Doctor
           hath
           given
           in
           this
           case
           ;
           which
           will
           both
           infer
           (
           and
           in
           some
           part
           excuse
           )
           what
           we
           are
           afterwards
           to
           discover
           :
           Viz.
           
        
         
           2ly
           ,
           The
           Infirmity
           of
           what
           is
           alledged
           by
           him
           in
           this
           Attempt
           of
           his
           to
           defend
           it
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           For
           the
           former
           ,
           it
           being
           obvious
           to
           common
           observation
           ,
           that
           a
           natural
           self-indulgence
           and
           aptness
           to
           decline
           and
           wave
           what
           is
           of
           more
           terrible
           import
           to
           themselves
           ,
           doth
           usually
           insinuate
           and
           influence
           mens
           minds
           in
           their
           judging
           of
           such
           Cases
           :
           We
           are
           the
           more
           concern'd
           (
           because
           a
           favourable
           false
           judgment
           will
           do
           us
           no
           good
           )
           with
           an
           impartial
           strictness
           to
           hold
           our selves
           
             to
             the
             thing
             it self
          
           .
           And
           when
           we
           most
           strictly
           do
           so
           ,
           methinks
           the
           Doctor
           should
           have
           somewhat
           an
           hard
           Province
           of
           it
           .
           For
           his
           Determination
           amounts
           to
           thus
           much
           ,
           [
           That
           we
           ought
           to
           be
           kept
           in
           a
           state
           of
           Damnation
           for
           scrupling
           the
           Ceremonies
           ]
           
             (
             i.
             e.
          
           to
           be
           deprived
           of
           the
           necessary
           means
           of
           our
           salvation
           .
           )
           And
           that
           ,
           while
           he
           accounts
           our
           scruple
           (
           after
           the
           use
           of
           due
           means
           for
           our
           information
           )
           not
           imputable
           to
           us
           as
           a
           sin
           :
           And
           not
           that
           only
           ,
           but
           that
           we
           ought
           to
           consent
           to
           our
           own
           damnation
           
           for
           this
           no
           sin
           of
           ours
           .
           Inasmuch
           as
           it
           would
           be
           sinful
           and
           mischievous
           to
           procure
           to
           our selves
           the
           necessary
           means
           of
           our
           salvation
           in
           another
           way
           ,
           while
           we
           apprehend
           that
           ,
           without
           our
           sin
           ,
           we
           cannot
           have
           them
           in
           the
           way
           which
           he
           allows
           us
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           indeed
           satisfied
           ,
           that
           our
           sin
           one
           way
           or
           other
           would
           contribute
           little
           to
           our
           salvation
           :
           But
           when
           also
           we
           are
           satisfied
           that
           we
           cannot
           enjoy
           the
           means
           of
           salvation
           in
           his
           way
           without
           sin
           ;
           and
           
             he
             tells
             us
          
           ,
           we
           cannot
           without
           sin
           enjoy
           them
           in
           our
           own
           :
           We
           hope
           every
           Door
           is
           not
           shut
           up
           against
           us
           ,
           and
           cannot
           think
           the
           merciful
           and
           holy
           God
           hath
           so
           stated
           our
           case
           ,
           as
           to
           reduce
           us
           to
           a
           necessity
           of
           sinning
           to
           get
           out
           of
           a
           state
           of
           damnation
           .
           And
           therefore
           this
           Reverend
           Author
           having
           already
           determined
           that
           our
           Remedy
           cannot
           lie
           (
           as
           our
           Consciences
           are
           hitherto
           inform'd
           )
           in
           coming
           over
           to
           him
           and
           his
           way
           ;
           For
           he
           believes
           we
           generally
           judge
           it
           unlawful
           to
           joyn
           with
           them
           in
           the
           publick
           Assemblies
           ,
           p.
           37.
           and
           says
           ,
           
             p.
             43.
             
             That
             no
             man
             that
             hath
             any
             Conscience
             will
             speak
             against
             the
             power
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             he
             that
             will
             speak
             against
             it
             ,
             hath
             no
             reason
             to
             be
             regarded
             in
             what
             he
             says
             :
          
           (
           as
           no
           question
           he
           expected
           to
           be
           ,
           otherwise
           he
           had
           not
           given
           himself
           so
           much
           trouble
           )
           and
           concludes
           ,
           
             p.
             44.
             
             That
             we
             should
             sin
             in
             going
             against
             it
             .
          
           As
           he
           also
           thinks
           we
           should
           in
           acting
           with
           it
           ,
           which
           (
           as
           is
           necessarily
           imply'd
           )
           we
           as
           yet
           see
           not
           :
           Our
           great
           hope
           upon
           the
           whole
           matter
           is
           ,
           that
           our
           relief
           must
           lye
           in
           taking
           the
           way
           which
           we
           do
           take
           ;
           And
           that
           it
           cannot
           be
           proved
           to
           be
           sinful
           .
        
         
           We
           reckon
           it
           is
           not
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Doctors
           judgment
           herein
           is
           simply
           indefensible
           ,
           because
           whatsoever
           is
           sinful
           must
           transgress
           some
           Law
           immediately
           divine
           ,
           or
           that
           obliges
           by
           vertue
           of
           the
           divine
           Law.
           And
           we
           cannot
           find
           that
           God
           hath
           made
           any
           Law
           ,
           or
           enabled
           any
           made
           by
           others
           ,
           to
           oblige
           us
           
             so
             far
          
           ,
           in
           our
           present
           Circumstances
           ,
           as
           that
           we
           
           should
           be
           involv'd
           in
           the
           guilt
           of
           sin
           ,
           by
           some
           variation
           from
           the
           letter
           of
           it
           .
           For
           any
           Divine
           Law
           that
           can
           be
           supposed
           to
           oblige
           us
           to
           the
           use
           of
           the
           things
           we
           scruple
           ,
           or
           else
           to
           live
           without
           the
           Worship
           and
           Ordinances
           of
           God
           ,
           not
           knowing
           any
           such
           our selves
           ,
           we
           must
           wait
           till
           we
           be
           inform'd
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           
             And
             that
             his
             Law
             doth
             give
             an
             obliging
             force
          
           so
           far
           
             to
             any
             other
             ,
             we
             as
             yet
             understand
             not
             .
             Wheresoever
             he
             hath
             been
             pleased
             to
             lodge
             and
             entrust
             the
             Keys
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             we
             do
             not
             find
             he
             hath
             appointed
             them
             to
             that
             use
             ,
             to
             admit
             us
             into
             the
             Communion
             of
             his
             Worship
             and
             Ordinances
             ,
             or
             totally
             to
             exclude
             us
             ,
             upon
             such
             terms
             .
             And
             herein
             we
             suppose
             we
             have
             the
             Doctor
             consenting
             with
             us
             .
             Who
             in
             his
          
           Irenicum
           ,
           p.
           216.
           
             plainly
             asserts
          
           ,
           That
           the
           Office
           which
           the
           power
           of
           Keys
           implies
           is
           Ministerial
           ,
           and
           not
           Authoritative
           ;
           Declarative
           ,
           and
           not
           Juridical
           .
           
             And
             says
             in
             the
             Preface
             to
             the
             same
             Book
             ,
             That
          
           He
           that
           came
           to
           take
           away
           the
           unsupportable
           Yoke
           of
           the
           Jewish
           Ceremonies
           ,
           did
           never
           intend
           to
           gall
           the
           Disciples
           Necks
           with
           another
           instead
           of
           it
           .
           
             Whereto
             he
             immediately
             adds
             in
             the
             same
             Preface
             .
          
           And
           it
           would
           be
           strange
           the
           Church
           should
           require
           more
           than
           Christ
           himself
           did
           ;
           and
           make
           other
           conditions
           of
           her
           Communion
           ,
           than
           our
           Saviour
           did
           of
           Discipleship
           .
           What
           possible
           reason
           can
           be
           assign'd
           or
           given
           why
           such
           things
           should
           not
           be
           sufficient
           for
           Communion
           with
           a
           Church
           ,
           which
           are
           sufficient
           for
           eternal
           Salvation
           ?
           And
           certainly
           those
           things
           are
           sufficient
           for
           that
           ,
           which
           are
           laid
           down
           by
           our
           Lord
           and
           Saviour
           in
           his
           Word
           What
           ground
           can
           there
           be
           why
           Christians
           should
           not
           stand
           upon
           the
           same
           terms
           now
           ,
           which
           they
           did
           in
           the
           time
           of
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           ?
           Was
           not
           Religion
           sufficiently
           guarded
           and
           fenced
           in
           them
           ?
           Was
           there
           ever
           more
           true
           and
           Cordial
           reverence
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ?
           What
           Charter
           hath
           Christ
           given
           the
           Church
           to
           bind
           men
           up
           to
           more
           than
           himself
           hath
           done
           ,
           or
           to
           exclude
           those
           from
           her
           society
           ,
           who
           may
           be
           admitted
           into
           Heaven
           ?
           Will
           Christ
           ever
           thank
           men
           at
           the
           great
           day
           for
           keeping
           
           such
           out
           from
           Communion
           with
           his
           Church
           ▪
           whom
           he
           will
           Vouchsafe
           not
           only
           Crowns
           of
           Glory
           to
           ,
           but
           it
           may
           be
           aureolae
           too
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           any
           such
           things
           there
           ?
           The
           Grand
           Commission
           the
           Apostles
           were
           sent
           out
           with
           ,
           was
           only
           to
           teach
           what
           Christ
           had
           Commanded
           them
           .
           Not
           the
           least
           Intimation
           of
           any
           power
           given
           them
           to
           impose
           or
           require
           any
           thing
           beyond
           what
           himself
           had
           spoken
           to
           them
           ,
           or
           they
           were
           directed
           to
           by
           the
           Immediate
           guidance
           of
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God.
           It
           is
           not
           whether
           the
           things
           Commanded
           and
           required
           be
           lawful
           or
           no
           ?
           It
           is
           not
           whether
           indifferences
           may
           be
           determined
           or
           no
           ?
           It
           is
           not
           how
           far
           Christians
           are
           bound
           to
           submit
           to
           a
           restraint
           of
           their
           Christian
           liberty
           ?
           Which
           I
           now
           inquire
           after
           ,
           (
           of
           those
           things
           in
           the
           Treatise
           it self
           )
           but
           whether
           they
           do
           consult
           for
           the
           Churches
           Peace
           and
           Unity
           who
           suspend
           it
           upon
           such
           things
           ?
           How
           far
           either
           the
           example
           of
           our
           Saviour
           or
           his
           Apostles
           doth
           warrant
           such
           rigorous
           impositions
           ?
           We
           never
           read
           the
           Apostles
           making
           Laws
           but
           of
           things
           supposed
           necessary
           .
           When
           the
           Counsel
           of
           Apostles
           met
           at
           Jerusalem
           for
           deciding
           a
           Case
           that
           disturbed
           the
           Churches
           Peace
           ,
           we
           see
           they
           would
           lay
           no
           other
           burden
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           besides
           these
           necessary
           things
           .
           
             Act.
             15.
          
           29.
           
           It
           was
           not
           enough
           with
           them
           that
           the
           things
           would
           be
           necessary
           when
           they
           had
           required
           them
           ,
           but
           they
           looked
           on
           an
           Antecedent
           necessity
           either
           absolute
           or
           for
           the
           present
           state
           ,
           which
           was
           the
           only
           ground
           of
           their
           imposing
           those
           Commands
           upon
           the
           Gentile
           Christians
           .
           There
           were
           ,
           after
           this
           ,
           great
           diversities
           of
           practice
           and
           Varieties
           of
           Observations
           among
           Christians
           ,
           but
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           never
           thought
           those
           things
           fit
           to
           be
           made
           matters
           of
           Laws
           ,
           to
           which
           all
           parties
           should
           conform
           ;
           all
           that
           the
           Apostles
           required
           as
           to
           these
           ,
           was
           mutual
           forbearance
           and
           condescension
           towards
           each
           other
           in
           them
           .
           The
           Apostles
           valued
           not
           differences
           at
           all
           ,
           and
           those
           things
           it
           is
           evident
           they
           accounted
           such
           ,
           which
           whether
           men
           did
           them
           or
           not
           ,
           was
           not
           of
           concernment
           to
           Salvation
           .
           And
           what
           reason
           is
           there
           why
           men
           should
           be
           so
           strictly
           tyed
           up
           to
           such
           things
           ,
           which
           they
           may
           do
           or
           let
           alone
           ,
           and
           yet
           be
           very
           good
           Christians
           still
           ?
           Without
           all
           controversie
           the
           main
           In-let
           of
           all
           the
           distractions
           
           confusions
           and
           divisions
           of
           the
           Christian
           World
           ,
           hath
           been
           by
           adding
           other
           conditions
           of
           Church-communion
           than
           Christ
           hath
           done
           .
        
         
           Nor
           am
           I
           now
           inquiring
           whether
           the
           things
           Commanded
           be
           lawful
           or
           no
           ?
           Nor
           whether
           indifferences
           may
           be
           determined
           or
           no
           ?
           Nor
           how
           far
           Christians
           are
           bound
           to
           submit
           to
           a
           restraint
           of
           their
           Christian
           Liberty
           ?
           But
           only
           inquiring
           (
           as
           he
           there
           doth
           )
           concerning
           the
           
             Charter
             given
             by
             Christ
          
           for
           the
           binding
           men
           up
           to
           more
           than
           himself
           hath
           done
           ?
           And
           I
           further
           inquire
           ,
           
             by
             what
             power
          
           they
           can
           be
           bound
           
             which
             Christ
             hath
             not
             given
          
           ?
           And
           if
           there
           be
           no
           such
           power
           to
           bind
           them
           ,
           suppose
           the
           things
           required
           were
           all
           lawful
           (
           which
           if
           it
           can
           be
           evinc't
           ,
           I
           should
           rejoyce
           to
           see
           done
           )
           yet
           while
           they
           cannot
           in
           conscience
           think
           they
           are
           ,
           how
           can
           they
           apprehend
           themselves
           bound
           to
           be
           without
           the
           means
           of
           Salvation
           
             which
             Christ's
             Charter
             entitles
             them
             to
             ?
          
        
         
           I
           readily
           grant
           it
           is
           fit
           a
           man
           do
           many
           things
           for
           peace
           and
           Common
           Orders
           sake
           which
           ,
           otherwise
           ,
           no
           Law
           doth
           
             formally
             oblige
          
           him
           to
           i.
           e.
           
             supposing
             he
             can
             do
             those
             things
             without
             intolerable
             prejudice
             to
             himself
             .
          
           And
           so
           it
           is
           commonly
           determined
           in
           the
           matter
           of
           scandals
           .
           But
           can
           it
           be
           thought
           a
           man
           is
           to
           put
           himself
           out
           of
           the
           state
           or
           way
           of
           Salvation
           in
           complement
           to
           such
           as
           will
           otherwise
           take
           offence
           ?
           And
           be
           so
           Courteous
           as
           to
           Perish
           for
           ever
           ,
           rather
           than
           they
           shall
           be
           displeased
           .
        
         
           Yea
           ,
           and
           it
           may
           be
           moreover
           added
           ,
           That
           our
           course
           being
           accounted
           lawful
           ,
           must
           also
           (
           as
           the
           Doctor
           speaks
           in
           another
           case
           )
           be
           thought
           a
           duty
           :
           For
           the
           things
           that
           are
           
             as
             means
          
           necessary
           to
           our
           salvation
           ,
           are
           also
           necessary
           
             by
             Divine
             Precept
          
           .
           We
           are
           commanded
           to
           hear
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           to
           devote
           our selves
           and
           our
           Children
           to
           God
           in
           Baptism
           ;
           and
           ,
           
             at
             the
             Lords
             own
             Table
          
           ,
           to
           
             remember
             him
          
           ,
           and
           shew
           forth
           his
           death
           till
           he
           come
           .
           And
           if
           we
           compare
           together
           
           certain
           Positions
           of
           this
           Reverend
           Author
           ,
           we
           cannot
           see
           but
           he
           must
           ,
           as
           our
           case
           is
           ,
           acknowledge
           our
           obligation
           to
           the
           practice
           which
           he
           here
           seems
           to
           blame
           .
           For
           in
           his
           
             Iren.
             p.
          
           109.
           
           He
           asserts
           ,
           
             That
             every
             Christian
             is
             under
             an
             obligation
             to
             joyn
             in
             Church-society
             with
             others
             ;
             because
             it
             is
             his
             duty
             to
             profess
             himself
             a
             Christian
             ,
             and
             to
             own
             his
             Religion
             publickly
             ,
             and
             to
             partake
             of
             the
             Ordinances
             and
             Sacraments
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             which
             cannot
             be
             without
             society
             with
             some
             Church
             or
             other
             .
          
           And
           he
           after
           adds
           (
           on
           the
           same
           page
           )
           
             It
             had
             been
             a
             case
             disputed
             by
             some
             (
             particularly
             by
          
           Grotius
           
             the
             supposed
             Author
             of
             a
             little
             Tract
             ,
          
           An
           semper
           sit
           communicandum
           per
           symbola
           ?
           
             When
             he
             design'd
             the
             Syncretism
             with
             the
             Church
             of
          
           Rome
           )
           
             whether
             in
             a
             time
             when
             Churches
             are
             divided
             ,
             it
             be
             a
             Christians
             duty
             to
             communicate
             with
             any
             of
             those
             Parties
             which
             divide
             the
             Church
             ,
             and
             not
             rather
             to
             suspend
             communion
             from
             all
             of
             them
             .
             A
             case
             not
             hard
             to
             be
             decided
             ;
             for
             either
             the
             person
             questioning
             it
             doth
             suppose
             the
             Churches
             divided
             to
             remain
             true
             Churches
             ,
             but
             some
             to
             be
             more
             pure
             than
             other
             ;
             in
             which
             case
             ,
             by
             vertue
             of
             his
             general
             obligation
             to
             Communion
             ,
             he
             is
             bound
             io
             adhere
             to
             that
             Church
             which
             appears
             most
             to
             retain
             its
             Evangelical
             purity
             .
          
           To
           which
           purpose
           he
           further
           tells
           us
           ,
           page
           110.
           
           He
           knows
           not
           whether
           Chrysostom
           '
           
             s
             act
             were
             to
             be
             commended
             ,
             who
             after
             being
             made
             a
             Deacon
             in
             the
             Church
             of
          
           Antioch
           by
           Meletius
           ,
           
             upon
             his
             death
             ;
             because
          
           Flavianus
           
             came
             in
             irregularly
             as
             Bishop
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             would
             neither
             communicate
             with
             him
             ,
             nor
             with
          
           Paulinus
           
             another
             Bishop
             at
             that
             time
             in
             the
             City
             ;
             nor
             with
             the
          
           Meletians
           
             but
             for
             three
             years
             time
             withdrew
             himself
             from
             communion
             with
             any
             of
             them
             .
          
           And
           p.
           113.
           
           
             Where
             any
             Church
             is
             guilty
             of
             Corruptions
             both
             in
             Doctrine
             and
             Practice
             ,
             which
             it
             avoweth
             and
             professeth
             ,
             and
             requireth
             the
             owning
             them
             as
             necessary
             conditions
             of
             communion
             with
             her
             ,
             there
             a
             non-communion
             with
             that
             Church
             is
             necessary
             ,
             and
             a
             total
             and
             positive
             separation
             is
             lawful
             and
             convenient
             .
          
           What
           he
           discourses
           
           page
           111
           ,
           112.
           upon
           the
           Question
           ,
           Whether
           it
           is
           a
           sin
           to
           communicate
           with
           Churches
           true
           ,
           as
           to
           Essentials
           ,
           but
           supposed
           corrupt
           in
           the
           exercise
           of
           Discipline
           ?
           Many
           of
           us
           will
           no
           doubt
           heartily
           concur
           with
           him
           in
           .
           But
           it
           touches
           not
           the
           case
           of
           
             many
             more
          
           ,
           who
           do
           not
           so
           much
           fear
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           the
           neglect
           of
           Discipline
           ,
           to
           be
           involv'd
           in
           the
           guilt
           of
           other
           mens
           sin
           ;
           as
           (
           there
           seems
           to
           be
           little
           cause
           ,
           
             that
             part
          
           being
           not
           incumbent
           upon
           us
           :
           )
           Nor
           ,
           if
           that
           be
           his
           meaning
           ,
           when
           he
           speaks
           of
           
             separating
             on
             a
             pretence
             of
             great
             purity
             ,
          
           is
           it
           the
           case
           with
           most
           of
           us
           :
           but
           we
           justly
           fear
           (
           and
           therefore
           avoid
           )
           to
           be
           made
           to
           
             sin
             our selves
          
           ,
           by
           having
           such
           things
           as
           we
           judge
           to
           be
           sinful
           
             imposed
             on
             us
          
           ,
           as
           the
           Conditions
           of
           our
           Communion
           .
           And
           as
           to
           this
           case
           ,
           this
           Reverend
           Author
           speaks
           our
           sense
           in
           this
           last
           cited
           Proposition
           ,
           and
           pleads
           our
           present
           Cause
           .
           Nor
           need
           we
           more
           to
           be
           said
           on
           behalf
           of
           it
           than
           what
           is
           reducible
           to
           that
           general
           Proposition
           ;
           or
           particularly
           ,
           to
           that
           second
           thing
           (
           compared
           with
           the
           third
           )
           which
           p.
           115.
           he
           says
           makes
           separation
           and
           withdrawment
           of
           communion
           lawful
           and
           necessary
           ;
           viz.
           
             Corruption
             of
             practice
          
           ,
           where
           we
           say
           as
           he
           doth
           ,
           
             We
             speak
             not
             of
             practice
             ,
             as
             relating
             to
             the
             civil
             conversation
             of
             men
             ,
             but
             as
             it
             takes
             in
             the
          
           Agenda
           
             of
             Religion
             ;
             when
             unlawful
             things
             of
             that
             kind
             ,
             are
             not
             only
             crept
             into
             a
             Church
             ,
             but
             are
             the
             prescribed
             devotion
             of
             it
             :
             Those
             being
             required
          
           (
           which
           he
           adds
           as
           an
           accession
           to
           the
           foregoing
           )
           
             as
             necessary
             conditions
             of
             communion
             from
             all
             the
             Members
             of
             their
             Church
             ,
             which
             makes
             our
             withdrawing
             from
             them
             unavoidably
             necessary
             ,
             as
             long
             as
             we
             judge
             them
             to
             be
             such
             corruptions
             as
             indeed
             they
             are
             .
          
           And
           whereas
           he
           instances
           only
           in
           such
           things
           as
           belong
           to
           the
           Head
           of
           
             Idolatrous
             Customs
          
           ,
           (
           suppressing
           what
           might
           be
           instanced
           under
           the
           other
           Head
           ,
           which
           he
           also
           there
           mentions
           ;
           viz.
           
             Superstitious
             practice
          
           )
           yet
           we
           doubt
           not
           if
           other
           things
           also
           ,
           that
           appear
           to
           be
           sinful
           ,
           besides
           idolatrous
           
           Customs
           ,
           be
           required
           as
           necessary
           conditions
           of
           communion
           ,
           the
           case
           will
           be
           the
           same
           ,
           unless
           we
           will
           distinguish
           sins
           ,
           into
           such
           as
           be
           lawful
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           be
           unlawful
           .
           Or
           there
           be
           any
           that
           may
           be
           committed
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           be
           admitted
           to
           the
           communion
           of
           this
           or
           that
           Church
           .
        
         
           Now
           (
           to
           reduce
           things
           to
           the
           method
           which
           sutes
           the
           present
           case
           )
           if
           this
           reverend
           Author
           do
           still
           judge
           [
           that
           where
           sinful
           conditions
           of
           Communion
           are
           imposed
           there
           Non-communion
           is
           necessary
           (
           and
           those
           things
           be
           sinful
           to
           us
           which
           our
           Consciences
           judge
           to
           be
           so
           ,
           as
           he
           hath
           acknowledged
           .
           ]
           )
           And
           again
           if
           he
           still
           judge
           [
           that
           we
           are
           under
           an
           Obligation
           to
           joyn
           in
           Church-society
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           own
           our
           Religion
           publickly
           ,
           and
           to
           partake
           of
           the
           Ordinances
           and
           Sacraments
           of
           the
           Gospel
           .
           ]
           He
           must
           certainly
           account
           that
           our
           duty
           which
           he
           taxes
           in
           this
           Sermon
           as
           our
           fault
           ,
           at
           least
           till
           our
           Consciences
           be
           otherwise
           informed
           ,
           whereof
           many
           of
           us
           have
           no
           great
           hope
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           indeed
           not
           so
           stupid
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           apprehend
           there
           are
           Laws
           ,
           the
           Letter
           whereof
           seems
           adverse
           to
           us
           Nor
           are
           we
           so
           ungrateful
           as
           not
           to
           acknowledge
           his
           Majesties
           clemency
           in
           not
           subjecting
           us
           to
           the
           utmost
           rigor
           of
           those
           Laws
           ;
           whom
           we
           cannot
           without
           deep
           regret
           ,
           
             so
             much
             as
             seem
          
           not
           ,
           in
           every
           thing
           ,
           exactly
           to
           obey
           .
           Nor
           can
           it
           enter
           into
           our
           minds
           to
           imagine
           that
           he
           expects
           to
           be
           obeyed
           by
           us
           ,
           at
           the
           expence
           of
           our
           Salvation
           .
           Or
           that
           it
           would
           be
           at
           all
           grateful
           to
           him
           that
           being
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           ,
           unsatisfied
           in
           some
           things
           that
           are
           by
           the
           Law
           made
           necessary
           to
           our
           partaking
           the
           priviledges
           of
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           we
           should
           become
           Pagans
           in
           duty
           to
           him
           .
           His
           Majesty
           was
           once
           pleased
           to
           give
           an
           ample
           Testimony
           by
           his
           never-to
           be-forgotten
           gracious
           declaration
           of
           March
           ,
           15.
           1672.
           
           How
           remote
           any
           such
           thought
           was
           from
           his
           Royal
           Breast
           ,
           and
           though
           we
           humbly
           submit
           to
           the
           exigency
           of
           those
           reasons
           of
           State
           from
           whence
           it
           proceeded
           ,
           that
           we
           enjoy
           not
           
           the
           continued
           positive
           favour
           which
           his
           Majesty
           was
           then
           pleased
           to
           express
           towards
           us
           ;
           yet
           we
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           doubt
           ,
           but
           his
           propensions
           are
           equally
           benigne
           as
           they
           were
           .
        
         
           Nor
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           uncertain
           to
           us
           what
           Laws
           they
           are
           ,
           the
           Authority
           whereof
           this
           reverend
           person
           relies
           upon
           to
           make
           our
           practice
           sinful
           ,
           yet
           we
           hope
           he
           doth
           not
           mean
           to
           urge
           us
           herein
           with
           the
           Laws
           of
           the
           Civil
           Government
           ,
           because
           those
           as
           much
           forbid
           our
           Non-Communion
           (
           and
           under
           as
           severe
           penalty
           )
           for
           which
           he
           acquits
           us
           from
           the
           Guilt
           of
           Shism
           (
           or
           ▪
           if
           we
           endeavour
           satisfaction
           )
           from
           any
           sin
           imputable
           to
           us
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           that
           should
           be
           his
           meaning
           ,
           we
           desire
           it
           may
           be
           considered
           how
           unreasonable
           it
           seems
           ,
           that
           the
           design
           of
           the
           Law
           relating
           to
           that
           part
           of
           our
           practice
           which
           the
           Doctor
           in
           this
           Sermon
           condemns
           ,
           being
           declaredly
           to
           prevent
           sedition
           ;
           they
           should
           take
           themselves
           to
           be
           meant
           who
           are
           conscious
           of
           no
           such
           design
           or
           disposition
           .
        
         
           And
           again
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           not
           with
           any
           reason
           ,
           Charity
           or
           Justice
           to
           be
           supposed
           ,
           that
           when
           that
           ,
           and
           other
           ,
           restrictive
           Laws
           were
           made
           ,
           either
           the
           Temporal
           ruine
           of
           so
           great
           a
           part
           of
           the
           Nation
           as
           are
           now
           found
           to
           be
           dissenters
           ,
           was
           intended
           by
           the
           legislators
           ,
           or
           the
           reducing
           them
           to
           the
           condition
           of
           Heathens
           .
           But
           an
           uniformity
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           being
           ,
           in
           it self
           ,
           a
           thing
           realy
           desireable
           ;
           this
           means
           was
           thought
           fit
           to
           be
           tryed
           in
           order
           to
           that
           end
           .
           And
           so
           are
           humane
           Laws
           ,
           about
           such
           mutable
           matters
           ,
           generally
           designed
           to
           be
           probationary
           ;
           the
           event
           and
           success
           being
           unforeknown
           .
           Whereupon
           ,
           after
           a
           competent
           time
           of
           ▪
           Trial
           ,
           as
           his
           Majesty
           was
           graciously
           pleased
           to
           declare
           his
           own
           favourable
           sense
           and
           intention
           ,
           so
           it
           is
           very
           commonly
           known
           that
           the
           like
           propensions
           were
           by
           Common
           suffrage
           expressed
           in
           Parliament
           ,
           viz.
           To
           grant
           a
           relaxation
           .
           So
           that
           the
           Law
           ,
           being
           in
           its
           own
           Nature
           ,
           nothing
           
           else
           but
           an
           indication
           of
           the
           Legislators
           will
           ,
           we
           may
           account
           the
           thing
           was
           in
           substance
           done
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           may
           satisfie
           a
           mans
           private
           reason
           and
           conscience
           concerning
           the
           Law-givers
           intention
           ,
           and
           pleasure
           ;
           though
           it
           were
           not
           done
           
             with
             that
             formality
          
           as
           uses
           (
           and
           is
           generally
           needful
           )
           to
           be
           stood
           upon
           ,
           by
           them
           who
           are
           the
           Ministers
           of
           the
           Law.
           And
           that
           it
           was
           not
           done
           with
           that
           formality
           also
           ,
           seemed
           rather
           to
           be
           from
           a
           disagreement
           about
           the
           manner
           ,
           or
           method
           of
           doing
           it
           ,
           than
           about
           the
           thing
           to
           be
           done
           .
           And
           how
           usual
           is
           it
           for
           Laws
           ,
           without
           formal
           repeal
           ,
           gently
           and
           gradually
           to
           expire
           ,
           grow
           Old
           ,
           and
           vanish
           away
           ,
           not
           being
           longer
           useful
           ,
           as
           the
           ritual
           part
           of
           the
           Mosaical
           Law
           did
           ,
           being
           come
           an
           ineffectual
           and
           unprofitable
           thing
           ?
           And
           how
           easie
           were
           it
           to
           instance
           in
           many
           other
           Laws
           ,
           
             the
             letter
             of
             which
             ▪
          
           they
           that
           urge
           these
           against
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           do
           without
           scruple
           transgress
           ?
           and
           from
           which
           no
           such
           weighty
           reasons
           do
           urge
           to
           borrow
           now
           and
           then
           a
           point
           ?
           How
           many
           dispense
           with
           themselves
           in
           many
           parts
           of
           their
           required
           Conformity
           ,
           that
           have
           obliged
           themselves
           to
           it
           ?
           
             The
             Priests
             in
             the
             Temple
             trangress
             the
             Law
             and
             are
             blameless
             .
          
           Yea
           ,
           and
           he
           that
           knows
           all
           things
           ,
           and
           who
           is
           judge
           of
           all
           knows
           how
           little
           scruple
           is
           made
           of
           transgr●ssing
           the
           Laws
           by
           gross
           immoralities
           and
           debaucheries
           .
           Men
           learn
           to
           judge
           of
           the
           sacredness
           of
           Laws
           by
           their
           own
           inclinations
           .
           Any
           that
           can
           be
           wire-drawn
           ,
           and
           made
           by
           torture
           ,
           to
           speak
           against
           Religion
           not
           modified
           their
           way
           must
           be
           most
           binding
           .
           Such
           as
           prohibit
           the
           vilest
           and
           most
           open
           wickedness
           ,
           bind
           as
           the
           Wit
           hs
           did
           Sampson
           .
        
         
           The
           summe
           of
           all
           is
           ,
           that
           whereas
           we
           are
           under
           the
           Obligation
           of
           the
           Divine
           Law
           to
           Worship
           God
           in
           the
           use
           of
           those
           his
           Ordinances
           which
           require
           to
           be
           dispensed
           and
           attended
           in
           society
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           apprehend
           we
           cannot
           do
           it
           without
           sin
           in
           the
           way
           which
           this
           reverend
           Author
           invites
           us
           to
           ,
           Whereas
           also
           we
           do
           ,
           with
           this
           Author
           ,
           deliberate
           
           whether
           Christ
           hath
           given
           any
           power
           to
           men
           to
           oblige
           us
           to
           the
           things
           we
           scruple
           ,
           or
           disoblige
           us
           from
           the
           things
           we
           practice
           and
           judge
           it
           unproved
           .
           We
           cannot
           but
           reckon
           the
           judgment
           the
           Dr.
           hath
           given
           in
           our
           case
           [
           that
           our
           practice
           is
           sinful
           ]
           is
           erroneous
           and
           indefensible
           by
           any
           Man
           ,
           but
           least
           fitly
           ,
           of
           most
           other
           men
           ,
           attempted
           to
           be
           defended
           by
           himself
           .
           From
           whom
           it
           would
           little
           have
           been
           expected
           that
           he
           should
           so
           earnestly
           recommend
           that
           very
           thing
           to
           us
           as
           the
           only
           Foundation
           of
           Union
           ,
           which
           he
           had
           so
           publickly
           told
           us
           in
           his
           Preface
           to
           the
           Irenicum
           was
           ,
           
             
               without
               Controversie
            
             ,
             the
             main
             in-let
             of
             all
             the
             distractions
             ,
             confusions
             ,
             and
             divisions
             of
             the
             Christian
             World
             ,
             viz.
             
               the
               adding
               other
               conditions
               of
               Church-communion
               than
               Christ
               hath
               done
               .
            
          
        
         
           And
           though
           he
           hath
           lately
           told
           the
           World
           there
           are
           some
           passages
           in
           that
           book
           that
           shew
           only
           the
           inconsiderateness
           of
           Youth
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           seems
           to
           wish
           unsaid
           ,
           yet
           he
           hath
           not
           ,
           that
           we
           know
           ,
           declared
           that
           these
           are
           some
           of
           them
           .
           However
           since
           this
           present
           determination
           and
           judgement
           of
           his
           against
           us
           is
           so
           peremptory
           and
           positive
           as
           well
           as
           severe
           ,
           let
           us
           in
           the
           next
           place
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           Consider
           and
           carefully
           examine
           as
           we
           are
           concerned
           ,
           what
           he
           hath
           performed
           in
           defence
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           to
           be
           hoped
           the
           inefficacy
           and
           weakness
           of
           his
           attempt
           therein
           will
           sufficiently
           appear
           .
           What
           I
           can
           find
           in
           his
           Sermon
           hath
           any
           aspect
           or
           design
           that
           way
           is
           either
           
             ad
             rem
          
           or
           ,
           
             ad
             hominem
          
           .
           And
           to
           my
           apprehension
           his
           reasonings
           ,
           of
           the
           one
           kind
           or
           the
           other
           ,
           are
           altogether
           unconcluding
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           to
           what
           may
           be
           supposed
           to
           be
           
             ad
             rem
          
           ,
           if
           you
           look
           narrowly
           you
           will
           find
           ,
           that
           the
           principal
           things
           alledged
           by
           him
           ,
           that
           can
           ,
           under
           that
           notion
           ,
           give
           support
           to
           his
           Cause
           ,
           are
           only
           affirmed
           ,
           but
           not
           proved
           .
           For
           instance
           ,
           p.
           9.
           
           When
           he
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           
             
               Apostle
               supposed
            
             the
             necessity
             of
             one
             fixed
             and
             certain
             Rule
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           .
           This
           
           had
           been
           very
           material
           to
           his
           purpose
           ;
           if
           ,
           1.
           
           He
           had
           told
           us
           ,
           and
           had
           proved
           ,
           the
           Apostle
           meant
           some
           Rule
           or
           other
           super-added
           to
           the
           Sacred
           Scriptures
           :
           For
           then
           he
           might
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           be
           presumed
           ,
           as
           easily
           have
           let
           us
           know
           what
           that
           Rule
           was
           ,
           which
           ,
           most
           probably
           ,
           would
           have
           ended
           all
           our
           controversie
           ;
           it
           being
           little
           to
           be
           doubted
           we
           should
           all
           ,
           most
           readily
           ,
           have
           agreed
           to
           obey
           it
           .
           Or
           ,
           2ly
           ,
           If
           he
           had
           proved
           ,
           that
           ▪
           because
           the
           Apostle
           had
           power
           to
           make
           such
           a
           Rule
           ,
           and
           oblige
           the
           Churches
           to
           observe
           it
           ,
           that
           therefore
           such
           Church-Guides
           as
           they
           whose
           cause
           the
           Doctor
           pleads
           ,
           have
           an
           equal
           power
           to
           make
           
             other
             Rules
          
           divers
           from
           his
           ,
           containing
           many
           new
           things
           ,
           which
           he
           never
           enjoyn'd
           ,
           and
           to
           enforce
           them
           upon
           the
           Church
           ,
           (
           though
           manifestly
           tending
           to
           its
           destruction
           rather
           than
           edification
           .
           )
           But
           these
           things
           he
           doth
           but
           
             suppose
             himself
          
           ,
           without
           colour
           of
           proof
           .
        
         
           Again
           ,
           for
           his
           Notion
           of
           Churches
           ,
           p.
           16
           ,
           17
           ,
           18
           ,
           19.
           examine
           ;
           as
           strictly
           as
           you
           will
           ,
           what
           he
           says
           about
           it
           ;
           And
           see
           whether
           it
           come
           to
           any
           thing
           more
           than
           only
           to
           represent
           a
           
             National
             Church
          
           a
           
             possible
             thing
          
           ?
           and
           whereto
           the
           name
           Church
           may
           ,
           without
           absurdity
           ,
           be
           given
           .
           His
           own
           words
           seem
           to
           aim
           no
           higher
           .
           
             Why
             
               may
               there
               not
            
             be
             one
             National
             Church
             from
             the
             consent
             in
             the
             same
             Articles
             of
             Religion
             ,
             and
             the
             same
             order
             of
             Worship
             ?
             
               pag.
               18.
            
             
          
           
             The
             word
             was
             used
             in
             the
             first
             Ages
             of
             the
             Christian
             Church
             ,
             as
             it
             comprehended
             the
             Ecclesiastical
             Governours
             ,
             and
             the
             people
             of
             whole
             Cities
             .
             And
             why
             many
             of
             these
             Cities
             being
             united
             together
             under
             one
             Civil
             Government
             ,
             and
             the
             same
             Rules
             of
             Religion
             ,
             should
             not
             
               be
               called
            
             one
             National
             Church
             ,
             I
             cannot
             understand
             ,
             p.
             19.
             
          
        
         
           But
           can
           it
           now
           be
           infer'd
           thence
           ,
           that
           therefore
           God
           hath
           actually
           constituted
           every
           Christian
           Kingdom
           or
           Nation
           
             such
             a
             Church
          
           ?
           Can
           it
           further
           be
           infer'd
           ,
           that
           he
           hath
           invested
           
           the
           Guides
           of
           
             this
             Church
          
           ,
           not
           chosen
           by
           the
           people
           (
           according
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           Primitive
           practice
           for
           some
           ages
           )
           with
           a
           power
           to
           make
           Laws
           and
           Decrees
           ,
           prescribing
           not
           only
           things
           necessary
           for
           common
           order
           and
           decency
           ,
           but
           new
           federal
           Rites
           ,
           and
           teaching
           Signs
           and
           Symbols
           ,
           superadded
           to
           the
           whole
           Christian
           Institution
           ;
           with
           many
           more
           dubious
           and
           unnecessary
           things
           besides
           ?
           and
           to
           exclude
           sober
           and
           pious
           Christians
           ,
           from
           the
           Priviledges
           that
           are
           proper
           to
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           as
           such
           ,
           meerly
           for
           that
           out
           of
           conscience
           towards
           God
           ,
           they
           dare
           not
           admit
           into
           their
           Worship
           those
           Additions
           to
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ?
           To
           take
           order
           they
           shall
           have
           no
           Pastors
           ,
           no
           Sacraments
           ,
           no
           Assemblies
           for
           Worship
           ?
           and
           because
           they
           will
           not
           be
           so
           much
           more
           than
           Christians
           ,
           that
           they
           shall
           not
           be
           Christians
           at
           all
           ?
        
         
           He
           that
           would
           go
           about
           to
           make
           these
           Inferences
           
             meerly
             from
             the
             forementioned
             ground
          
           ,
           would
           gain
           
             to
             be
             laught
             at
          
           by
           all
           sober
           men
           ,
           instead
           of
           a
           conclusion
           ?
           whatsoever
           better
           success
           he
           should
           have
           ,
           who
           should
           undertake
           to
           prove
           the
           same
           things
           any
           other
           way
           .
        
         
           This
           Reverend
           Author
           was
           so
           wise
           as
           not
           to
           attempt
           either
           of
           these
           :
           But
           then
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           what
           doth
           the
           meer
           
             possible
             notion
          
           of
           such
           a
           Church
           advantage
           his
           Cause
           ?
           Because
           it
           is
           possible
           there
           
             might
             have
             been
             such
             a
             Macedonian
             ,
          
           or
           
             such
             a
             Lydian
             Church
          
           ,
           is
           such
           a
           one
           therefore
           necessary
           ?
           and
           any
           other
           Constitution
           of
           a
           Christian
           Church
           
             impossible
             ,
             or
             unlawful
          
           ?
           Or
           because
           the
           General
           meeting
           of
           the
           Magistrates
           of
           the
           whole
           City
           and
           People
           together
           in
           
             Pagan
             Athens
          
           was
           called
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           therefore
           such
           must
           be
           the
           constitution
           of
           a
           Christian
           Church
           ?
           And
           therefore
           
             such
             a
             Church
          
           hath
           such
           powers
           from
           Christ
           as
           were
           above
           mentioned
           ?
        
         
           Here
           ,
           howsoever
           we
           make
           our
           stand
           ,
           and
           say
           that
           till
           the
           Doctor
           hath
           proved
           these
           two
           things
           .
        
         
         
           1.
           
           That
           such
           a
           Church
           as
           he
           hath
           given
           us
           the
           notion
           of
           ,
           as
           of
           a
           thing
           meerly
           possible
           ,
           is
           actually
           a
           Divine
           Institution
           .
           And
        
         
           2ly
           ,
           That
           God
           hath
           given
           to
           the
           Ecclesiastical
           Governours
           in
           it
           never
           chosen
           by
           the
           Christian
           Community
           ,
           or
           to
           any
           other
           Power
           ,
           to
           super-add
           Institutions
           of
           the
           nature
           above
           mentioned
           ,
           and
           to
           enforce
           them
           under
           the
           mentioned
           Penalties
           .
           
             All
             his
             reasonings
             that
             pretend
             to
             be
          
           ad
           rem
           ,
           
             are
             to
             no
             purpose
             ,
             and
             do
             nothing
             at
             all
             advantage
             his
             Cause
             .
          
        
         
           Yet
           there
           are
           some
           passages
           in
           this
           part
           of
           his
           Discourse
           ,
           that
           though
           they
           signifie
           nothing
           to
           his
           main
           purpose
           ,
           are
           yet
           very
           remarkable
           ,
           and
           which
           't
           is
           fit
           we
           should
           take
           some
           notice
           of
           .
        
         
           As
           when
           pag.
           16.
           
           He
           tells
           us
           
             what
             he
             means
             by
             whole
             Churches
          
           ;
           viz.
           
           
             The
             Churches
             of
             such
             Nations
             ,
             which
             ,
             upon
             the
             decay
             of
             the
             Roman
             Empire
             ,
             resumed
             their
             just
             power
             of
             Government
             to
             themselves
             ,
             and
             upon
             their
             owning
             Christianity
             ,
             incorporated
             into
             one
             Christian
             Society
             ,
             under
             the
             same
             common
             tyes
             and
             rules
             of
             Order
             and
             Government
             .
          
           As
           if
           there
           could
           be
           no
           
             whole
             Churches
          
           in
           the
           world
           that
           had
           not
           been
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Empire
          
           .
           Or
           as
           if
           those
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Empire
          
           could
           not
           have
           been
           
             whole
             Churches
          
           without
           resumption
           of
           the
           Civil
           Government
           .
        
         
           Or
           (
           as
           we
           suppose
           he
           means
           )
           as
           if
           (
           which
           he
           intimates
           ;
           
             p.
             19.
             )
             we
          
           needed
           this
           (
           so
           dearly
           espoused
           notion
           as
           a
           ground
           )
           to
           acquit
           us
           from
           the
           imputation
           of
           Schism
           ,
           in
           our
           separating
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
           Which
           certainly
           it
           were
           not
           for
           the
           advantage
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Cause
           to
           admit
           :
           For
           then
           all
           that
           remain
           within
           the
           Empire
           ,
           were
           bound
           to
           continue
           in
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Church
          
           .
           And
           in
           the
           other
           Kingdoms
           ,
           where
           Princes
           have
           not
           resumed
           their
           just
           right
           of
           reforming
           Errors
           in
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           Corruptions
           in
           Worship
           ;
           all
           should
           be
           Schismaticks
           that
           should
           separate
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
        
         
         
           Again
           ,
           when
           p.
           17.
           
           He
           would
           confute
           that
           
             great
             mistake
          
           ,
           the
           making
           the
           notion
           of
           a
           Church
           barely
           to
           relate
           to
           
             Acts
             of
             Worship
          
           :
           (
           A
           mistake
           whereof
           I
           never
           knew
           any
           man
           guilty
           )
           He
           surely
           runs
           into
           as
           great
           an
           opposite
           mistake
           ,
           in
           making
           the
           notion
           of
           a
           Church
           to
           be
           
             no
             more
          
           than
           of
           a
           society
           of
           men
           united
           together
           ,
           
             for
             their
             Order
             and
             Government
          
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Rules
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           .
           Now
           Faith
           and
           Worship
           are
           quite
           excluded
           the
           notion
           of
           a
           Church
           :
           And
           Order
           and
           Government
           ,
           and
           the
           Rules
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           but
           
             as
             they
             refer
             to
             these
          
           ,
           only
           included
           .
           Whence
           it
           will
           come
           to
           pass
           ,
           that
           we
           can
           have
           no
           notion
           of
           
             one
             Catholick
             Church
          
           ,
           from
           which
           yet
           he
           argues
           at
           the
           bottom
           of
           the
           same
           page
           .
        
         
           Nor
           ,
           though
           I
           dislike
           the
           thing
           ,
           do
           I
           understand
           the
           strength
           of
           the
           Doctors
           Argument
           ,
           against
           making
           the
           notion
           of
           the
           Church
           barely
           to
           relate
           to
           Acts
           of
           Worship
           ;
           viz.
           That
           
             if
             this
             held
             true
             ,
             the
             Church
             must
             be
             dissolved
             as
             soon
             as
             the
             Congregation
             is
             broken
             up
             .
          
           For
           will
           it
           not
           also
           follow
           as
           well
           ,
           that
           if
           the
           notion
           of
           a
           Church
           relate
           only
           to
           Order
           and
           Government
           ,
           every
           time
           any
           meeting
           for
           Affairs
           of
           Order
           and
           Government
           is
           broken
           up
           ,
           the
           Church
           is
           dissolved
           ?
           And
           that
           an
           Assembly
           of
           the
           States
           in
           any
           Kingdom
           or
           Nation
           cannot
           break
           up
           ,
           without
           a
           dissolution
           of
           the
           Government
           ?
           A
           Parliament
           (
           at
           least
           )
           not
           Adjourn
           or
           be
           Prorogued
           without
           being
           dissolved
           ?
           And
           whereas
           he
           adds
           ,
           
             But
             if
             they
             retain
             the
             nature
             of
             a
             Church
             ,
             when
             they
             do
             not
             meet
             together
             for
             worship
             ,
             then
             there
             is
             some
             other
             Bond
             that
             unites
             them
             ,
             and
             whatever
             that
             is
             ,
             it
             Constitutes
             the
             Church
             .
          
           Is
           it
           not
           possible
           there
           may
           be
           such
           a
           Bond
           for
           Worship
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           for
           Government
           ?
           an
           Obligation
           to
           meet
           at
           stated
           times
           for
           that
           purpose
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           not
           met
           ?
           And
           then
           (
           if
           this
           were
           all
           that
           were
           to
           be
           said
           to
           the
           contrary
           )
           why
           might
           not
           
             that
             Bond
          
           as
           well
           serve
           to
           Constitute
           the
           Church
           ?
        
         
         
           But
           secondly
           ,
           For
           his
           reasonings
           
             ad
             hominem
          
           ,
           they
           need
           not
           detain
           us
           long
           ;
           he
           argues
           from
           the
           Judgment
           of
           the
           
             Assembly
             of
             Divines
          
           ,
           and
           others
           .
        
         
           All
           which
           arguing
           must
           suppose
           ,
           if
           it
           concern
           us
           ,
           That
           we
           are
           bound
           to
           be
           of
           the
           same
           Judgment
           with
           the
           Ministers
           that
           are
           and
           have
           been
           so
           and
           so
           minded
           ,
           which
           I
           for
           my
           part
           understand
           not
           .
           But
           I
           perceive
           here
           his
           intention
           is
           ,
           having
           endeavoured
           to
           draw
           us
           off
           from
           our
           Ministers
           ;
           now
           to
           move
           another
           Stone
           ,
           and
           try
           if
           he
           can
           draw
           them
           off
           from
           us
           .
        
         
           
             For
             the
             Assembly
          
           ,
           I
           think
           it
           fit
           those
           that
           survive
           of
           them
           should
           be
           as
           much
           concluded
           by
           what
           they
           then
           determined
           ,
           as
           this
           reverend
           Author
           by
           the
           Irenicum
           .
           But
           I
           know
           no
           reason
           that
           such
           as
           they
           never
           represented
           ,
           nor
           who
           ever
           pretended
           to
           be
           of
           their
           Party
           ,
           should
           be
           so
           concluded
           to
           the
           Worlds
           end
           .
           Nor
           do
           understand
           why
           even
           
             the
             same
             Party
          
           may
           not
           be
           as
           well
           supposed
           in
           a
           possibility
           to
           vary
           from
           it self
           in
           fourty
           years
           ,
           as
           the
           same
           man
           from
           himself
           in
           less
           than
           twenty
           .
           If
           they
           did
           incline
           to
           deal
           too
           hardly
           with
           their
           Brethren
           ,
           that
           will
           not
           justifie
           them
           who
           deal
           more
           hardly
           .
           'T
           is
           hoped
           such
           as
           have
           been
           so
           inclin'd
           ,
           have
           ,
           being
           smitten
           ,
           and
           suffered
           the
           rebukes
           of
           the
           Almighty
           ,
           repented
           it
           ,
           and
           are
           become
           wiser
           :
           And
           when
           some
           think
           themselves
           grown
           wiser
           by
           prosperity
           ,
           others
           by
           adversity
           ,
           there
           is
           less
           reason
           to
           suspect
           the
           latter
           .
        
         
           Yet
           also
           this
           reverend
           Author
           ought
           to
           have
           considered
           the
           great
           disparity
           of
           the
           Cases
           he
           would
           parallel
           .
           For
           when
           
             one
             sort
             of
             men
          
           are
           considering
           of
           having
           only
           such
           a
           frame
           of
           things
           settled
           ,
           as
           are
           imposed
           by
           Christ
           himself
           ,
           whether
           they
           judge
           rightly
           or
           no
           ,
           that
           he
           hath
           imposed
           every
           part
           of
           that
           frame
           ,
           yet
           while
           they
           think
           and
           judge
           that
           he
           hath
           ,
           and
           consequently
           that
           nothing
           is
           to
           be
           abated
           of
           it
           ;
           't
           were
           very
           unfitly
           argued
           ,
           that
           therefore
           
             another
             sort
          
           professing
           
           to
           impose
           many
           things
           never
           imposed
           by
           Christ
           ,
           should
           abate
           nothing
           of
           their
           unnecessary
           impositions
           .
        
         
           For
           such
           as
           the
           Doctor
           quotes
           besides
           of
           the
           Non-conformists
           ,
           acknowledging
           the
           Parish
           Churches
           true
           Churches
           ,
           and
           the
           lawfulness
           of
           holding
           ,
           sometimes
           ,
           Communion
           with
           some
           of
           them
           .
           It
           is
           not
           to
           be
           thought
           but
           among
           so
           many
           Parties
           as
           come
           all
           under
           one
           Common
           Notion
           of
           dissenters
           from
           the
           publick
           rule
           (
           and
           whom
           that
           Rule
           did
           not
           find
           one
           ,
           but
           made
           them
           so
           
             in
             that
             Common
             Notion
          
           )
           there
           must
           be
           great
           diversity
           of
           Opinions
           ,
           and
           proportionably
           differing
           practices
           in
           these
           matters
           .
           I
           heartily
           prefer
           the
           most
           moderate
           as
           I
           believe
           you
           do
           .
           But
           here
           this
           reverend
           Author
           takes
           occasion
           for
           so
           ignominious
           reflections
           upon
           our
           Preachers
           ,
           as
           insincere
           ,
           dishonest
           and
           unconscientious
           ,
           as
           I
           doubt
           not
           in
           one
           20
           Years
           more
           his
           ingenuity
           will
           oblige
           him
           to
           repent
           more
           heartily
           ,
           than
           ever
           it
           permitted
           him
           to
           do
           of
           his
           Irenicum
           .
           Because
           he
           can
           alledge
           a
           very
           few
           persons
           ,
           that
           have
           spoken
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           therefore
           first
           it
           must
           be
           represented
           to
           the
           World
           as
           their
           
             common
             judgement
          
           ,
           next
           ,
           they
           are
           charged
           with
           concealing
           this
           judgment
           
             (
             why
             is
             this
             kept
             up
             as
             such
             a
             mighty
             secret
             in
             the
             breasts
             of
             their
             Teachers
             ?
             p.
             37.
             )
          
           and
           then
           it
           is
           endeavoured
           to
           make
           men
           think
           they
           practice
           against
           their
           own
           judgments
           in
           preaching
           to
           seperate
           Congregations
           .
        
         
           Surely
           you
           and
           I
           are
           concern'd
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           occasion
           ,
           to
           say
           what
           we
           truly
           can
           ,
           for
           the
           just
           vindication
           of
           our
           Ministers
           .
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           you
           believe
           and
           you
           have
           ,
           
             for
             some
          
           ,
           particular
           reason
           to
           be
           confident
           ,
           it
           is
           for
           our
           sakes
           they
           expose
           themselves
           to
           the
           displeasure
           of
           such
           men
           as
           D.
           St.
           
        
         
           I
           must
           for
           my
           part
           say
           ,
           1.
           
           That
           I
           beleive
           it
           to
           be
           the
           judgement
           of
           very
           few
           that
           every
           Parish
           is
           ,
           
             as
             such
          
           ,
           a
           true
           Christian
           Church
           .
           I
           am
           sorry
           I
           have
           such
           a
           ground
           to
           fear
           it
           
             of
             one
             kind
             ,
             viz.
          
           that
           some
           may
           not
           be
           so
           ,
           as
           not
           having
           among
           them
           any
           tolerable
           understanding
           of
           the
           most
           confessedly
           
           fundamental
           Principles
           of
           Christian
           Religion
           .
           What
           say
           you
           to
           such
           where
           the
           Minister
           is
           grosly
           ignorant
           of
           the
           Principles
           of
           Religion
           ,
           or
           habitually
           vicious
           ,
           and
           of
           a
           prostigate
           life
           ?
           Do
           meer
           Orders
           make
           him
           a
           Minister
           who
           (
           perhaps
           since
           he
           received
           them
           )
           is
           become
           destitute
           of
           the
           most
           essential
           qualifications
           ?
           any
           more
           than
           the
           habit
           ,
           a
           Monk
           ?
           or
           a
           Beard
           ,
           a
           Philosopher
           ?
           Can
           a
           Mercury
           be
           made
           of
           every
           Log
           ?
           Not
           to
           insist
           that
           this
           reverend
           Author
           can
           scarce
           think
           they
           are
           ,
           from
           a
           ground
           
             of
             another
             kind
          
           ,
           because
           
             they
             assemble
             only
             for
             Worship
             and
             not
             for
             Government
             .
          
        
         
           2.
           
           And
           surely
           a
           Church
           may
           be
           unfit
           to
           be
           Communicated
           with
           although
           it
           be
           a
           true
           Church
           ;
           (
           Those
           words
           of
           the
           reverend
           and
           worthy
           Dean
           of
           Canterbury
           carry
           their
           own
           light
           with
           them
           to
           this
           purpose
           )
           
             As
             a
             man
             may
             be
             truly
             and
             really
             a
             man
             ,
          
           *
           
             though
             he
             have
             the
             plague
             upon
             him
             ,
             and
             for
             that
             reason
             be
             fit
             to
             be
             avoided
             by
             all
             that
             wish
             well
             to
             themselves
             .
          
           'T
           is
           true
           there
           are
           vastly
           different
           degrees
           of
           that
           unfitness
           .
           But
           I
           see
           not
           how
           they
           can
           apprehend
           there
           is
           the
           fitness
           which
           is
           
             simply
             necessary
          
           ,
           who
           judge
           there
           are
           conditions
           of
           Communion
           imposed
           that
           are
           sinful
           .
        
         
           And
           I
           beleive
           this
           reverend
           Author
           will
           think
           it
           possible
           a
           true
           Church
           may
           impose
           some
           sinful
           conditions
           of
           her
           Communion
           ,
           in
           which
           case
           he
           hath
           determined
           a
           Non-communion
           with
           her
           necessary
           and
           unavoidable
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           For
           those
           that
           are
           of
           that
           judgement
           ,
           the
           Parochial
           Assemblies
           ought
           to
           be
           Communicated
           with
           
             so
             far
          
           as
           is
           alledged
           was
           declared
           .
           As
           I
           know
           none
           of
           the
           dissenting
           Ministers
           ,
           that
           thought
           they
           
             ought
             always
          
           ,
           and
           only
           to
           be
           Communicated
           with
           ,
           so
           I
           see
           not
           with
           what
           pretence
           it
           can
           be
           said
           they
           keep
           up
           their
           judgment
           herein
           ,
           as
           a
           mighty
           secret
           .
           If
           it
           be
           so
           ,
           how
           came
           this
           Author
           to
           have
           it
           revealed
           to
           him
           ?
           Is
           Printing
           it
           to
           the
           World
           keeping
           it
           secret
           ?
           
           Some
           have
           published
           it
           
             in
             that
             way
          
           as
           we
           see
           is
           known
           to
           the
           Doctor
           .
           Others
           by
           their
           frequent
           discourses
           ,
           and
           their
           own
           practice
           .
           And
           to
           my
           observation
           divers
           of
           them
           have
           in
           their
           Sermons
           made
           it
           much
           their
           business
           to
           dispose
           the
           minds
           of
           their
           hearers
           to
           a
           truly
           Catholick
           ,
           Christian
           Union
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           been
           much
           pleased
           to
           take
           notice
           some
           of
           the
           Conforming
           Clergy
           do
           also
           .
           But
           if
           this
           be
           the
           Doctors
           quarrel
           with
           any
           of
           our
           Ministers
           (
           who
           think
           such
           Communion
           Lawful
           )
           that
           they
           do
           not
           constantly
           ,
           in
           every
           Sermon
           inculcate
           the
           business
           of
           Communicating
           in
           the
           Ceremonial
           way
           ,
           for
           my
           part
           I
           shall
           blame
           them
           as
           much
           as
           he
           ,
           when
           once
           he
           hath
           made
           it
           very
           evident
           ,
           that
           the
           Ceremonies
           are
           more
           profitable
           ,
           and
           likely
           to
           do
           more
           good
           to
           the
           souls
           of
           men
           than
           repentance
           ,
           the
           faith
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           the
           fear
           of
           God
           ,
           a
           good
           life
           in
           this
           world
           ,
           and
           eternal
           life
           in
           the
           other
           ,
           which
           I
           confess
           are
           the
           more
           usual
           subjects
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           I
           have
           had
           opportunity
           to
           observe
           ,
           of
           their
           preaching
           .
        
         
           And
           let
           me
           add
           ,
           that
           I
           can
           tell
           you
           of
           a
           secret
           which
           some
           might
           be
           apt
           to
           think
           (
           as
           it
           is
           really
           ,
           so
           )
           is
           industriously
           and
           much
           
             more
             unrighteously
          
           kept
           up
           in
           one
           mans
           breast
           ,
           that
           may
           be
           conscious
           of
           a
           great
           design
           in
           it
           .
           The
           Author
           of
           the
           Book
           intitled
           the
           
             Weapon
             Salve
          
           ,
           or
           Irenicum
           ,
           seems
           to
           have
           found
           it
           some
           inconveniency
           to
           him
           ,
           to
           have
           been
           the
           Author
           of
           so
           good
           a
           Book
           ,
           whereupon
           in
           a
           certain
           Soliloquy
           (
           though
           he
           is
           pleased
           to
           represent
           it
           as
           a
           
             tripartite
             Dialogue
          
           )
           he
           askes
           himself
           his
           own
           opinion
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           gives
           himself
           this
           answer
           ;
           
             I
             will
             tell
             you
             freely
          
           (
           as
           you
           know
           men
           use
           great
           liberty
           in
           talking
           with
           themselves
           ,
           though
           prudence
           would
           direct
           that
           to
           be
           done
           in
           some
           cases
           ,
           with
           great
           Caution
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           talk
           inconvenient
           things
           too
           loud
           ,
           lest
           they
           be
           too
           much
           overheard
           )
           
             I
             beleive
             there
             are
             many
             things
             in
             it
             ,
             which
             if
             D.
             St.
             were
             to
             write
             now
             ,
             he
             would
             not
             have
             said
             ,
             for
             there
             are
             some
             things
             which
             shew
             his
             Youth
             and
             want
             of
             due
             consideration
             ,
             others
             in
             which
             he
             yielded
             too
             far
             ,
             
             &c.
             
          
           Now
           here
           (
           though
           I
           beleive
           he
           had
           begun
           to
           be
           inclin'd
           to
           throw
           away
           his
           Salve
           ,
           and
           use
           only
           the
           Weapon
           for
           the
           Wounding
           of
           sound
           parts
           ,
           not
           the
           cutting
           off
           the
           incurable
           ,
           yet
           )
           I
           conceive
           one
           may
           safely
           enough
           take
           it
           for
           granted
           ,
           his
           intention
           was
           not
           to
           retract
           the
           whole
           Book
           .
           But
           whereas
           he
           tells
           us
           not
           what
           he
           doth
           ,
           (
           how
           would
           the
           Doctor
           take
           it
           if
           one
           should
           ask
           )
           why
           is
           this
           kept
           up
           as
           such
           a
           mighty
           secret
           in
           his
           own
           breast
           ?
           
             
               Or
               say
               the
               tenderness
               of
               his
               mind
               might
               ,
            
             't
             is
             likely
             ,
             
               out
               of
               meer
               shamefac'dness
               keeps
               him
               from
               declaring
            
             against
             what
             his
             own
             Conscience
             tells
             him
             is
             truth
             .
          
           However
           his
           retractation
           cannot
           make
           that
           which
           was
           true
           become
           false
           .
           The
           
             reason
             of
             things
          
           is
           sullen
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           alter
           to
           serve
           mens
           conveniences
           .
           Perhaps
           indeed
           his
           judgment
           is
           really
           altered
           .
           If
           therefore
           he
           would
           acquit
           himself
           like
           an
           
             honest
             and
             conscientious
             man
          
           ,
           let
           him
           tell
           the
           world
           plainly
           ,
           which
           be
           the
           pernicious
           principles
           of
           that
           Book
           ,
           that
           honest
           and
           consciencious
           men
           who
           have
           thought
           well
           of
           many
           things
           in
           it
           ,
           (
           and
           perhaps
           the
           same
           things
           which
           he
           now
           disapproves
           )
           may
           not
           always
           be
           deceived
           by
           the
           shews
           of
           Reason
           that
           deceived
           himself
           ,
           and
           by
           which
           he
           deceived
           them
           .
           The
           same
           justice
           that
           obliges
           not
           to
           lay
           a
           stumbling
           block
           in
           the
           way
           of
           the
           blind
           ,
           doth
           also
           oblige
           him
           to
           remove
           it
           who
           hath
           laid
           it
           :
           Which
           is
           to
           be
           done
           not
           by
           professing
           another
           opinion
           ,
           for
           we
           depend
           not
           on
           his
           authority
           ,
           which
           he
           hath
           himself
           so
           much
           diminished
           ;
           but
           on
           the
           reasons
           he
           alledged
           ,
           which
           if
           they
           were
           fallacious
           ,
           let
           him
           shew
           wherein
           ,
           and
           answer
           his
           own
           reasons
           .
           To
           say
           the
           truth
           ,
           the
           gravity
           and
           seriousness
           wherewith
           that
           Book
           was
           written
           ,
           appears
           to
           have
           so
           little
           of
           the
           youth
           in
           it
           ,
           in
           comparison
           of
           the
           jocularity
           ,
           and
           sportful
           humor
           of
           some
           of
           his
           latter
           Writings
           ,
           when
           he
           hath
           been
           discussing
           the
           most
           weighty
           and
           important
           Cases
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           that
           it
           seems
           as
           a
           Prodigy
           in
           Nature
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           began
           his
           life
           at
           the
           wrong
           end
           ;
           that
           he
           was
           
           old
           in
           his
           youth
           ,
           and
           reserved
           his
           puerility
           to
           his
           more
           grown
           age
           .
           But
           we
           hope
           there
           is
           a
           great
           residue
           behind
           ,
           wherein
           he
           may
           have
           opportunity
           and
           inclinatioa
           to
           shew
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           he
           did
           not
           repent
           
             the
             pious
             design
          
           of
           that
           Book
           :
           Or
           ,
           at
           least
           with
           a
           repentance
           that
           (
           can
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           that
           )
           ought
           to
           be
           repented
           of
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           And
           whereas
           such
           of
           the
           dissenting
           Ministers
           ,
           as
           have
           most
           openly
           declared
           for
           communicating
           at
           some
           times
           with
           some
           of
           the
           Parochial
           Churches
           ,
           have
           also
           declared
           their
           judgment
           of
           the
           lawfulness
           and
           necessity
           of
           Preaching
           and
           Hearing
           ,
           and
           doing
           other
           Religious
           Duties
           in
           other
           Congregations
           also
           .
           If
           now
           either
           the
           Doctor
           discern
           not
           the
           consistency
           of
           these
           things
           ,
           or
           they
           discern
           not
           their
           inconsistency
           ;
           is
           there
           nothing
           to
           be
           said
           or
           thought
           but
           that
           they
           
             acquit
             not
             themselves
             like
             honest
             and
             conscientious
             men
             ?
          
           Must
           it
           be
           taken
           for
           a
           demonstration
           of
           a
           mans
           want
           of
           honesty
           and
           conscience
           ,
           not
           be
           presently
           of
           the
           Doctors
           Opinion
           in
           every
           thing
           ?
           or
           not
           to
           see
           every
           consequence
           which
           he
           sees
           ,
           or
           thinks
           he
           sees
           ?
        
         
           But
           let
           us
           consider
           the
           goodness
           of
           this
           Consequence
           ,
           which
           it
           must
           be
           so
           great
           a
           piece
           of
           dishonesty
           not
           to
           discern
           .
           If
           it
           be
           the
           duty
           of
           some
           to
           communicate
           sometimes
           with
           some
           Parish-Churches
           (
           for
           this
           is
           the
           most
           the
           Doctor
           could
           make
           of
           that
           Relators
           Concession
           ,
           whom
           he
           cites
           p.
           21
           ,
           22.
           of
           his
           Sermon
           )
           Therefore
           it
           is
           the
           duty
           of
           every
           one
           to
           communicate
           with
           any
           Parish-Church
           where
           his
           abode
           is
           ,
           so
           constantly
           and
           entirely
           as
           never
           to
           have
           any
           communion
           with
           any
           otherwise
           constituted
           Congregation
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           thing
           must
           be
           to
           his
           purpose
           infer'd
           ;
           yea
           and
           he
           would
           have
           it
           be
           from
           somewhat
           a
           lower
           premise
           .
           For
           he
           tells
           us
           ,
           p.
           37.
           
           
             That
             he
             dare
             say
             ,
             if
             most
             of
             the
             Preachers
             at
             this
             day
             in
             the
             separate
             Meetings
             were
             soberly
             askt
             their
             judgments
             ,
             whether
             it
             were
             lawful
             (
             only
             )
             
             for
             the
             people
             to
             joyn
             with
             us
             in
             the
             publick
             Assemblies
             ,
             they
             would
             not
             deny
             it
             .
          
           He
           surely
           dare
           not
           say
           that
           their
           meaning
           was
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           lawful
           constantly
           to
           joyn
           with
           them
           in
           
             all
             their
             Parochial
             Assemblies
          
           ,
           unless
           he
           
             dare
             say
          
           ,
           what
           he
           hath
           not
           ,
           from
           any
           of
           them
           ,
           the
           least
           ground
           to
           think
           .
           Now
           hereupon
           he
           collects
           ,
           p.
           38.
           that
           our
           Ministers
           
             cannot
             declare
             so
             much
             in
             a
             separate
             Congregation
             ,
          
           but
           
             this
             truth
          
           must
           fly
           in
           their
           faces
           :
           Because
           he
           supposeth
           it
           repugnant
           
             to
             it
          
           ,
           to
           preach
           at
           all
           in
           a
           separate
           Congregation
           (
           and
           yet
           afterwards
           on
           the
           same
           page
           ,
           he
           so
           well
           agrees
           with
           himself
           ,
           as
           to
           bid
           them
           ,
           
             if
             they
             would
             acquit
             themselves
             like
             honest
             and
             conscientious
             men
             ,
             tell
             the
             people
             plainly
             that
             they
             look
             on
             our
             Churches
             as
             true
             Churches
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             may
             lawfully
             communicate
             with
             us
             in
             Prayers
             and
             Sacraments
             :
          
           And
           where
           are
           they
           to
           tell
           them
           so
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           separate
           Congregations
           ?
           singly
           and
           severally
           he
           knows
           it
           were
           impossible
           .
           Nor
           do
           I
           think
           he
           would
           reckon
           Honesty
           and
           Conscience
           obliging
           them
           to
           come
           and
           tell
           the
           people
           so
           in
           
             their
             Congregations
             .
          
           )
        
         
           Now
           I
           am
           afraid
           there
           are
           but
           a
           very
           few
           honest
           and
           conscientious
           men
           in
           the
           World
           at
           this
           day
           ,
           if
           none
           are
           to
           go
           for
           such
           ;
           but
           who
           can
           perceive
           the
           strength
           and
           reasonableness
           of
           the
           above-mentioned
           consequence
           .
        
         
           And
           that
           you
           may
           further
           see
           what
           reason
           
             our
             Ministers
          
           may
           have
           ,
           notwithstanding
           all
           the
           alledged
           Concessions
           ,
           to
           administer
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           in
           
             our
             Assemblies
          
           ;
           though
           it
           were
           never
           so
           much
           their
           common
           universal
           judgment
           ,
           that
           they
           and
           we
           might
           sometimes
           communicate
           in
           some
           of
           the
           Parochial
           ;
           let
           us
           consider
           ,
           That
           in
           the
           more
           populous
           and
           frequented
           places
           ,
           as
           with
           you
           at
           London
           for
           instance
           ,
           the
           Churches
           cannot
           receive
           ,
           some
           not
           a
           tenth
           part
           ,
           some
           not
           half
           of
           the
           people
           belonging
           to
           them
           ,
           few
           can
           receive
           all
           .
           Methinks
           good
           men
           should
           not
           be
           offended
           that
           multitudes
           do
           in
           this
           distress
           relieve
           
           themselves
           by
           resorting
           to
           other
           places
           for
           necessary
           instruction
           .
           And
           though
           it
           be
           the
           inclinations
           of
           the
           people
           that
           divide
           them
           this
           way
           and
           that
           (
           as
           it
           can
           be
           nothing
           else
           )
           and
           though
           places
           for
           their
           resort
           be
           not
           every
           where
           most
           conveniently
           situate
           for
           their
           resort
           ,
           where
           there
           is
           most
           need
           ,
           (
           which
           must
           be
           taken
           not
           always
           where
           it
           were
           most
           desirable
           ,
           but
           where
           they
           can
           be
           had
           )
           yet
           they
           that
           have
           a
           mind
           ,
           had
           better
           go
           to
           places
           at
           a
           more
           inconvenient
           distance
           ,
           than
           have
           no
           whither
           to
           go
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           better
           the
           necessities
           
             of
             many
          
           should
           be
           provided
           for
           in
           such
           an
           exigency
           ,
           
             than
             of
             none
          
           .
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           the
           Churches
           of
           worthy
           conforming
           Ministers
           ,
           in
           such
           populous
           places
           are
           generally
           fill'd
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           been
           inform'd
           ,
           and
           have
           sometimes
           had
           occasion
           to
           observe
           .
        
         
           Do
           not
           necessities
           of
           a
           much
           lower
           nature
           oblige
           us
           to
           recede
           from
           stated
           humane
           rules
           ?
           It
           is
           well
           known
           there
           is
           a
           law
           against
           relieving
           such
           as
           beg
           out
           of
           their
           own
           Parishes
           .
           But
           if
           one
           find
           upon
           the
           road
           such
           a
           poor
           wretch
           ready
           to
           perish
           ,
           am
           I
           not
           bound
           ,
           notwithstanding
           ,
           if
           I
           can
           ,
           to
           releive
           him
           ?
           And
           who
           would
           think
           in
           such
           a
           case
           I
           transgrest
           the
           true
           intention
           of
           the
           Law
           ?
        
         
           Yea
           and
           Gods
           own
           Laws
           respecting
           
             Rituals
             ,
             Common
             Order
          
           ,
           and
           the
           
             external
             part
             of
             Religion
          
           ,
           were
           by
           his
           own
           direction
           to
           yield
           to
           far
           less
           urgent
           necessities
           .
           
             To
             the
             plucking
             an
             Ass
             or
             Ox
             out
             of
             Ditch
             ,
          
           how
           much
           more
           the
           souls
           of
           men
           ?
           
             Have
             we
             not
             read
             what
             David
             did
             when
             he
             was
             an
             hungred
             ,
             and
             they
             that
             were
             with
             him
             ,
             how
             he
             entred
             into
             the
             House
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             did
             eat
             the
             shew-bread
             ,
             which
             it
             was
             not
             lawful
             for
             him
             to
             eat
             ,
             neither
             for
             them
             which
             were
             with
             him
             ,
             but
             only
             for
             the
             Priests
             .
          
           How
           expresly
           is
           it
           alledged
           by
           our
           blessed
           Saviour
           ,
           against
           those
           nice
           and
           punctilious
           Observers
           and
           Urgers
           of
           the
           latter
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           the
           Pharisees
           ,
           
             I
             will
             have
             mercy
             and
             not
             sacrifice
             .
          
           And
           if
           he
           were
           willing
           to
           abate
           a
           
             sacrifice
             to
             himself
          
           ,
           that
           there
           might
           be
           room
           for
           the
           exercise
           of
           mercy
           
           towards
           
             mens
             bodies
          
           ,
           how
           monitory
           and
           reprehensive
           should
           that
           be
           to
           such
           merciless
           persons
           ,
           as
           would
           have
           the
           
             very
             souls
             of
             men
             themselves
             be
             sacrifices
             to
             their
             stiff
             and
             unyielding
             humors
             !
          
           Positive
           Laws
           cease
           to
           bind
           when
           ,
           by
           accident
           ,
           they
           thwart
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           .
           Which
           binds
           to
           nothing
           more
           deeply
           than
           the
           endeavour
           of
           saving
           ones
           own
           Soul
           ,
           and
           (
           within
           the
           bounds
           of
           his
           calling
           )
           his
           Neighbours
           as
           his
           own
           .
        
         
           What
           if
           many
           of
           our
           Ministers
           think
           it
           lawful
           ,
           and
           ,
           at
           some
           times
           ,
           a
           duty
           to
           joyn
           in
           some
           of
           the
           publick
           Assemblies
           ?
           It
           is
           not
           then
           their
           duty
           ,
           when
           an
           inviting
           oportunity
           ,
           and
           so
           urgent
           necessities
           lay
           before
           them
           greater
           duty
           .
           This
           reverend
           Author
           tells
           us
           ,
           very
           pertinently
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           when
           he
           was
           declaiming
           against
           us
           and
           our
           Ministers
           .
           p.
           31.
           of
           his
           Sermon
           :
           
             It
             is
             a
             great
             fault
             among
             some
             who
             pretend
             to
             great
             niceness
             in
             some
             
               positive
               duties
            
             ,
             that
             they
             have
             so
             little
             regard
             to
             
               comparative
               duties
            
             :
             For
             that
             which
             may
             be
             a
             duty
             in
             one
             case
             ,
             when
             it
             comes
             to
             thwart
             a
             greater
             duty
             ,
             may
             be
             none
             .
             This
             Doctrine
             we
             learn
             from
             our
             blessed
             Saviour
             in
             the
             case
             of
             the
             obligation
             of
             the
             Sabbath
             ;
             which
             he
             makes
             to
             yield
             to
             duties
             of
             mercy
             .
             And
             can
             we
             think
             that
             a
             Duty
             lying
             upon
             us
             ,
             which
             ,
             in
             our
             circumstances
             ,
             makes
             a
             far
             greater
             Duty
             impractible
             ?
          
           We
           acknowledge
           Order
           and
           Unity
           very
           lovely
           and
           desirable
           things
           ,
           but
           we
           think
           it
           of
           greater
           importance
           that
           the
           Ministers
           with
           whom
           such
           fault
           is
           found
           conduct
           men
           ,
           though
           not
           in
           so
           accurate
           Order
           (
           which
           they
           cannot
           help
           )
           to
           Heaven
           ,
           than
           let
           them
           go
           in
           the
           best
           Order
           ,
           yea
           (
           and
           as
           the
           case
           is
           )
           without
           any
           at
           all
           ,
           to
           hell
           .
        
         
           And
           what
           though
           
             the
             necessity
          
           of
           many
           of
           us
           arise
           from
           our
           own
           Scruples
           ,
           and
           what
           though
           those
           scruples
           were
           without
           ground
           ,
           doth
           it
           therefore
           follow
           we
           must
           be
           abandoned
           to
           perish
           ?
           When
           our
           very
           Error
           if
           we
           be
           willing
           to
           admit
           conviction
           (
           as
           we
           sincerely
           are
           could
           the
           
           matter
           admit
           it
           )
           is
           not
           imputable
           to
           us
           for
           a
           sin
           ?
           This
           Author
           was
           once
           pleased
           to
           make
           it
           one
           of
           his
           proposals
           for
           accommodation
           ,
           p.
           64.
           of
           his
           Irenicum
           ;
           
             That
             no
             sanctions
             be
             made
             ,
             nor
             mulcts
             or
             penalties
             be
             inflicted
             on
             such
             ,
             who
             only
             dissent
             from
             the
             use
             of
             some
             things
             ,
             whose
             lawfulness
             they
             at
             present
             scruple
             ,
             till
             sufficient
             time
             and
             means
             be
             used
             for
             their
             information
             of
             the
             nature
             and
             indifferency
             of
             the
             things
             ,
             that
             it
             may
             be
             seen
             whether
             it
             be
             out
             of
             wilful
             contempt
             ,
             and
             obstinacy
             of
             Spirit
             ,
             or
             only
             weakness
             of
             conscience
             ,
             and
             dissatisfaction
             concerning
             the
             things
             themselves
             ,
             that
             they
             disobey
             .
             And
             if
             it
             be
             made
             evident
             to
             be
             out
             of
             contempt
             ,
             that
             only
             such
             penalties
             be
             inflicted
             as
             answer
             to
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             offence
             .
          
           
             Where
             he
             adds
          
           ,
           
             I
             am
             sure
             it
             is
             contrary
             to
             the
             Primitive
             practice
             ,
             and
             the
             moderation
             then
             used
             ,
             to
             suspend
             and
             deprive
             men
             of
             their
             Ministerial
             function
             for
             not
             conforming
             in
             habits
             ,
             gestures
             ,
             or
             the
             like
             .
          
           Which
           he
           makes
           good
           by
           following
           instances
           beyond
           his
           own
           present
           contradiction
           .
           It
           is
           strange
           that
           for
           
             such
             like
          
           things
           ,
           now
           ,
           it
           is
           thought
           so
           highly
           just
           ,
           that
           our
           Ministers
           are
           totally
           to
           be
           kept
           out
           of
           the
           Ministery
           ,
           and
           we
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           way
           of
           Salvation
           !
           are
           these
           unproportionable
           penalties
           even
           where
           contempt
           appears
           ?
           and
           what
           are
           they
           when
           ,
           through
           Gods
           mercy
           ,
           there
           appears
           not
           the
           least
           colour
           of
           it
           ?
        
         
           Is
           meer
           scrupling
           an
           humane
           device
           in
           the
           worship
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           an
           inability
           to
           see
           with
           other
           mens
           eyes
           ,
           and
           to
           mould
           and
           form
           our
           judgements
           and
           consciences
           ,
           as
           some
           other
           men
           can
           do
           theirs
           ,
           a
           crime
           so
           inexpiable
           ,
           that
           nothing
           less
           than
           our
           eternal
           ruine
           can
           satisfy
           for
           it
           ?
           They
           know
           ,
           who
           have
           read
           the
           Turkish
           History
           ,
           that
           
             meer
             scruple
          
           brought
           that
           necessity
           upon
           the
           Garrison
           of
           Sfetigrade
           in
           Scanderbegs
           daies
           ,
           that
           ,
           rather
           than
           drink
           of
           water
           which
           they
           thought
           polluted
           ,
           they
           must
           either
           surrender
           ,
           or
           perish
           .
           If
           another
           possible
           way
           could
           have
           been
           found
           to
           supply
           
           them
           ,
           was
           it
           fit
           they
           and
           the
           Town
           should
           rather
           be
           lost
           ,
           than
           their
           unreasonable
           scruple
           be
           born
           with
           ?
           Or
           should
           they
           ,
           in
           that
           exigency
           ,
           be
           still
           held
           to
           it
           ,
           to
           drink
           of
           that
           very
           water
           or
           none
           ?
           We
           think
           we
           have
           greater
           reason
           to
           urge
           for
           our
           scruples
           ,
           we
           think
           our
           necessity
           is
           greater
           ,
           the
           case
           more
           important
           ,
           And
           God
           deliver
           us
           from
           such
           Pastors
           ,
           as
           will
           not
           think
           so
           too
           ,
           and
           value
           souls
           at
           an
           higher
           Rate
           .
        
         
           Our
           case
           being
           thus
           ,
           we
           apply
           ourselves
           to
           Ministers
           ,
           bound
           by
           their
           calling
           and
           Office
           to
           attend
           the
           Affairs
           of
           the
           souls
           of
           men
           ,
           they
           are
           at
           leasure
           ,
           have
           nothing
           else
           to
           do
           ,
           they
           may
           not
           live
           idle
           and
           useless
           in
           the
           World.
           This
           is
           their
           proper
           business
           ;
           Whatever
           their
           Opinion
           is
           about
           the
           things
           we
           scruple
           (
           and
           we
           believe
           it
           is
           mostly
           the
           same
           with
           ours
           )
           we
           see
           not
           how
           they
           can
           ,
           or
           dare
           ,
           deny
           us
           the
           help
           of
           their
           Ministerial
           labours
           ,
           we
           thank
           God
           that
           they
           dare
           not
           .
           And
           should
           they
           daily
           spend
           their
           pains
           upon
           us
           to
           urge
           us
           to
           the
           Ceremonial
           way
           ,
           as
           we
           beleive
           they
           would
           do
           it
           very
           heartlesly
           (
           wishing
           things
           to
           be
           in
           that
           respect
           ,
           otherwise
           in
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           we
           )
           so
           would
           their
           labour
           in
           that
           kind
           be
           unprofitable
           ,
           and
           therefore
           ungrateful
           to
           us
           .
           Nor
           do
           we
           think
           it
           needs
           any
           sort
           of
           mortifiedness
           in
           them
           (
           as
           we
           find
           they
           are
           jeer'd
           under
           that
           Notion
           )
           not
           to
           send
           us
           away
           unedifi'd
           and
           grieved
           from
           their
           Congregations
           ;
           so
           much
           as
           a
           mortifiedness
           in
           their
           love
           of
           souls
           ,
           and
           their
           sense
           of
           eternal
           concernments
           ;
           Wherein
           too
           many
           others
           ,
           have
           attained
           to
           a
           great
           degree
           of
           mortification
           .
        
         
           But
           now
           (
           my
           Honored
           Friend
           )
           what
           think
           you
           of
           our
           cause
           ?
           Let
           us
           seriously
           consider
           it
           ,
           not
           according
           to
           the
           appearance
           which
           it
           will
           have
           to
           a
           Captious
           Sophistical
           Wit
           ;
           But
           as
           you
           will
           apprehend
           it
           to
           look
           in
           the
           eyes
           of
           our
           supream
           and
           final
           Judge
           ;
           considering
           also
           the
           same
           Blessed
           Jesus
           ,
           as
           that
           mighty
           Redeemer
           and
           Lover
           of
           Souls
           ,
           
           who
           once
           suffered
           the
           just
           for
           the
           unjust
           to
           bring
           them
           to
           God.
           Bring
           the
           matter
           before
           him
           ,
           with
           whom
           you
           are
           to
           expect
           no
           tricks
           ,
           but
           most
           plain
           and
           equal
           dealing
           .
           And
           bethink
           your self
           ,
           whether
           of
           these
           two
           things
           he
           will
           be
           more
           likely
           to
           have
           regard
           unto
           ,
           
             The
             saving
             of
             Souls
          
           ,
           which
           he
           bought
           with
           his
           blood
           ;
           or
           ,
           
             The
             preserving
             inviolate
             certain
             humane
             institutions
             and
             rules
             ,
             confessed
             by
             the
             devisers
             of
             them
             not
             to
             be
             necessary
             to
             the
             being
             of
             the
             Church
          
           which
           common
           reason
           sees
           unnecessary
           to
           its
           
             well
             being
          
           ,
           to
           its
           external
           order
           and
           decency
           (
           evidently
           as
           great
           without
           them
           )
           which
           this
           Author
           makes
           foreign
           thereto
           ,
           when
           he
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           
             matters
             of
             order
             and
             decency
             are
             allowable
             and
             fitting
             ,
             but
             Ceremonies
             properly
             taken
             for
             actions
             significative
             ,
             and
             therefore
             appointed
             because
             significative
             their
             lawfulness
             may
             with
             better
             ground
             be
             scrupled
             ,
          
           Iren.
           p.
           68.
           
           And
           which
           experience
           shews
           to
           be
           destructive
           .
           As
           whereby
           so
           great
           numbers
           ,
           not
           only
           of
           his
           labourers
           are
           to
           be
           discarded
           ,
           but
           of
           living
           ,
           flourishing
           plants
           to
           be
           torn
           up
           by
           the
           roots
           ,
           and
           all
           thrown
           out
           of
           his
           vineyard
           together
           ?
        
         
           For
           my
           own
           part
           I
           must
           profess
           not
           to
           have
           the
           least
           doubt
           concerning
           the
           
             thing
             it self
          
           which
           we
           and
           our
           Ministers
           do
           ,
           and
           practice
           ,
           it
           is
           only
           our
           common
           great
           concern
           ,
           to
           be
           very
           careful
           with
           
             what
             temper
             of
             Spirit
          
           ,
           and
           
             with
             what
             design
          
           we
           do
           it
           .
           It
           should
           to
           the
           uttermost
           be
           endeavoured
           to
           be
           done
           with
           all
           meekness
           and
           humility
           ,
           with
           all
           possible
           reverence
           to
           Authority
           ,
           abhorrence
           of
           the
           least
           
             real
             contempt
          
           ,
           and
           unfeigned
           regret
           there
           should
           be
           any
           appearance
           of
           it
           ,
           though
           never
           so
           unavoidable
           ;
           With
           a
           design
           only
           to
           glorifie
           God
           ,
           and
           promote
           the
           common
           salvation
           ;
           Not
           to
           make
           or
           serve
           a
           party
           ,
           or
           advance
           any
           other
           interest
           than
           that
           of
           
             meer
             substantial
             Christianity
             and
             Godliness
          
           .
           Let
           us
           covet
           this
           temper
           of
           mind
           ,
           and
           where
           we
           see
           persons
           of
           real
           worth
           ,
           and
           of
           a
           true
           latitude
           and
           largeness
           of
           Spirit
           ,
           
           commensurate
           to
           the
           Christian
           interest
           ,
           that
           fall
           in
           with
           the
           publick
           constitution
           ,
           value
           and
           love
           them
           nothing
           the
           less
           ,
           than
           if
           their
           judgments
           about
           these
           lesser
           things
           were
           never
           so
           exactly
           squared
           with
           our
           own
           ,
           and
           so
           much
           more
           ,
           by
           how
           much
           they
           may
           excell
           us
           in
           far
           greater
           and
           more
           valuable
           things
           .
           And
           if
           it
           be
           our
           lot
           to
           suffer
           under
           the
           notion
           of
           
             evil
             doers
          
           for
           doing
           what
           we
           take
           to
           be
           
             our
             duty
          
           ,
           let
           it
           be
           according
           to
           the
           Doctors
           wholesome
           Counsel
           with
           an
           unrepining
           patience
           ,
           and
           with
           much
           thankfulness
           both
           to
           God
           and
           our
           Rulers
           that
           we
           have
           enjoy'd
           so
           much
           tranquillity
           ;
           and
           with
           that
           cheerfulness
           that
           becomes
           those
           that
           expect
           a
           blessed
           eternity
           ;
           and
           to
           be
           translated
           ere
           long
           into
           a
           pure
           and
           peaceful
           region
           ,
           where
           we
           are
           to
           serve
           God
           ,
           in
           society
           even
           with
           many
           of
           them
           who
           have
           been
           offended
           with
           us
           ,
           without
           scruple
           or
           trouble
           to
           ourselves
           or
           them
           .
           If
           with
           such
           dispositions
           and
           aims
           we
           persist
           in
           our
           course
           ,
           while
           our
           case
           is
           attended
           with
           such
           circumstances
           as
           now
           it
           is
           ;
           I
           have
           no
           fear
           ,
           I
           sincerely
           profess
           to
           you
           ,
           of
           our
           acceptance
           with
           God
           ,
           and
           ,
           sooner
           or
           later
           ,
           with
           all
           good
           men
           .
        
         
           Upon
           the
           whole
           matter
           ,
           I
           conceive
           the
           honest
           Cause
           you
           were
           so
           deeply
           concerned
           for
           ,
           is
           really
           unharm'd
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           you
           apprehend
           it
           too
           ;
           and
           that
           therefore
           your
           fear
           and
           despondency
           was
           causless
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           could
           not
           out-live
           this
           attempt
           against
           it
           by
           Doctor
           St.
           As
           you
           therefore
           see
           how
           capable
           it
           is
           of
           defence
           against
           him
           ,
           I
           shall
           not
           forget
           the
           other
           part
           of
           my
           undertaking
           :
           but
           shall
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           Say
           somewhat
           (
           as
           yours
           sufficiently
           lets
           me
           see
           there
           is
           Cause
           )
           in
           his
           just
           defence
           against
           you
           .
           And
           really
           Sir
           ,
           though
           that
           be
           an
           untoward
           thing
           to
           dispute
           against
           ,
           I
           find
           it
           needful
           to
           defend
           him
           only
           
             against
             your
             anger
          
           ,
           i.
           e.
           
             the
             excess
             of
             it
          
           :
           Which
           although
           it
           can
           no
           more
           harm
           him
           ,
           than
           he
           hath
           done
           the
           Cause
           ;
           and
           consequently
           the
           blunting
           and
           breaking
           its
           edge
           (
           which
           is
           
           the
           thing
           I
           aim
           at
           )
           cannot
           advantage
           him
           ,
           yet
           it
           will
           do
           him
           right
           ;
           and
           (
           which
           was
           the
           thing
           I
           first
           intended
           ▪
           't
           will
           be
           an
           advantage
           and
           kindness
           to
           you
           .
        
         
           I
           must
           here
           indeed
           tell
           you
           ,
           that
           I
           cannot
           blame
           you
           for
           being
           in
           some
           measure
           offended
           ,
           as
           I
           can
           excuse
           the
           Doctor
           but
           in
           part
           .
           I
           do
           dislike
           as
           well
           as
           you
           two
           things
           especially
           in
           his
           way
           of
           managing
           this
           business
           ;
           viz.
           His
           
             too
             great
             acrimony
          
           ,
           and
           
             too
             little
             seriousness
          
           .
        
         
           
             For
             the
             former
          
           it
           is
           too
           evident
           ,
           and
           I
           heartily
           pity
           him
           for
           it
           ,
           that
           he
           should
           so
           forget
           ,
           and
           suffer
           himself
           to
           be
           transported
           beyond
           the
           rules
           of
           Christianity
           and
           Prudence
           ;
           neither
           of
           which
           would
           allow
           him
           ,
           (
           and
           I
           am
           sure
           within
           the
           compass
           of
           the
           former
           ,
           his
           Text
           would
           not
           )
           so
           to
           make
           himself
           a
           Standard
           to
           all
           other
           men
           ,
           as
           to
           suppose
           no
           man
           can
           be
           honest
           or
           conscientious
           that
           is
           not
           of
           his
           mind
           in
           the
           matters
           he
           then
           undertook
           to
           controvert
           ,
           or
           that
           should
           not
           judge
           of
           the
           connections
           of
           things
           as
           he
           did
           :
           I
           cannot
           think
           it
           hath
           added
           to
           his
           Reputation
           to
           reflect
           so
           grosly
           before
           such
           an
           Assembly
           ,
           upon
           a
           whole
           Party
           of
           Men
           that
           are
           ,
           many
           of
           them
           ,
           well
           known
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           who
           ,
           in
           point
           of
           Integrity
           ,
           are
           so
           little
           liable
           to
           be
           suspected
           ,
           that
           an
           attempt
           to
           blemish
           them
           upon
           so
           slight
           a
           pretence
           ,
           and
           in
           
             matter
             of
             fact
             ,
             so
             untrue
             ,
          
           could
           not
           but
           recoil
           upon
           himself
           ;
           especially
           with
           them
           that
           shall
           impartially
           compare
           their
           Inducements
           to
           prevaricate
           with
           what
           he
           hath
           .
        
         
           
             And
             for
             the
             other
          
           ,
           it
           were
           indeed
           to
           have
           been
           wisht
           ,
           that
           upon
           so
           grave
           and
           solemn
           an
           Occasion
           he
           had
           forborn
           Jests
           ,
           especially
           
             of
             that
             nature
          
           ;
           as
           for
           instance
           ,
           
             such
             mortifi'd
             and
             conscientious
             men
          
           ,
           and
           
             the
             most
             godly
             —
             can
             least
             endure
             to
             be
             told
             of
             their
             faults
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           Which
           expressions
           any
           one
           that
           considers
           his
           scope
           ,
           will
           understand
           to
           be
           Ironical
           ;
           and
           that
           considers
           the
           matter
           ,
           to
           be
           somewhat
           bold
           Ironies
           ;
           and
           the
           occasion
           ,
           to
           be
           causless
           ones
           .
           Inasmuch
           as
           it
           is
           
           not
           impossible
           ,
           that
           truly
           mortified
           and
           conseientious
           men
           may
           desire
           opportunities
           to
           do
           God
           Service
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           in
           a
           way
           that
           he
           dislikes
           .
           And
           it
           may
           consist
           with
           real
           Godliness
           ,
           not
           to
           count
           all
           those
           things
           Faults
           ,
           which
           he
           takes
           to
           be
           such
           .
           And
           indeed
           
             in
             his
             Dedication
          
           ,
           his
           way
           of
           averting
           the
           report
           of
           
             those
             ill
             men
          
           ,
           that
           
             he
             intended
             to
             stir
             up
             the
             Magistrates
             and
             Judges
             to
             a
             Persecution
             of
             the
             Dissenters
             ,
          
           is
           ,
           to
           any
           considering
           man
           ,
           sportful
           and
           ludicrous
           ,
           viz.
           Offering
           them
           only
           such
           a
           way
           of
           escaping
           Persecution
           ,
           as
           whereupon
           a
           man
           may
           shun
           suffering
           ,
           if
           he
           please
           ,
           from
           any
           party
           of
           men
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           
             as
             such
          
           ,
           by
           being
           in
           every
           thing
           of
           their
           mind
           and
           way
           :
           But
           which
           in
           effect
           grants
           the
           Charge
           which
           he
           would
           avoid
           ,
           that
           if
           we
           will
           not
           be
           so
           united
           to
           his
           Party
           ,
           we
           were
           to
           expect
           nothing
           but
           utmost
           rigor
           .
           One
           would
           rather
           have
           thought
           he
           should
           have
           bedew'd
           that
           Discourse
           with
           Tears
           ,
           which
           had
           
             in
             it self
          
           ,
           most
           manifestly
           so
           awful
           and
           tremendous
           a
           Design
           :
           As
           not
           only
           the
           devoting
           of
           so
           great
           Numbers
           ,
           that
           might
           possibly
           not
           be
           convinced
           ,
           and
           perswaded
           by
           him
           ,
           to
           a
           temporal
           ruine
           ;
           but
           the
           depriving
           them
           of
           the
           ordinary
           means
           of
           their
           salvation
           .
           And
           that
           ,
           if
           he
           thought
           it
           necessary
           for
           the
           preserving
           of
           Order
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           they
           should
           be
           so
           dealt
           with
           ;
           he
           should
           have
           spoken
           of
           their
           Case
           with
           greatest
           compassion
           and
           tenderness
           ,
           not
           with
           derision
           and
           contempt
           .
        
         
           Yet
           I
           would
           have
           you
           use
           lenitives
           with
           yourself
           ,
           and
           calm
           your
           own
           spirit
           ;
           and
           I
           wish
           you
           were
           capable
           of
           contributing
           any
           thing
           to
           the
           moderating
           and
           pacifying
           his
           too
           .
           That
           though
           he
           have
           been
           angry
           unprovok'd
           ,
           and
           with
           a
           sort
           of
           men
           ,
           that
           have
           ever
           respected
           and
           honoured
           him
           as
           if
           he
           had
           been
           of
           themselves
           ;
           his
           anger
           that
           hath
           been
           
             without
             cause
          
           (
           as
           you
           know
           perhaps
           who
           in
           a
           like
           expression
           blames
           the
           exorbitancy
           of
           another
           passion
           )
           may
           not
           also
           be
           
             without
             end
          
           ,
           At
           least
           I
           pray
           you
           take
           heed
           you
           
           do
           not
           deserve
           the
           like
           sharp
           repartee
           ,
           which
           the
           Cynick
           met
           with
           from
           
             that
             noble
             Philosopher
          
           ,
           that
           he
           
             taxed
             his
             pride
             with
             greater
             pride
          
           ;
           that
           you
           exceed
           not
           the
           heats
           whereof
           you
           complain
           .
           If
           he
           will
           still
           retain
           his
           fervour
           ,
           let
           him
           be
           angry
           alone
           .
           And
           his
           displeasure
           have
           its
           continuance
           ,
           with
           as
           little
           influence
           or
           concomitancy
           of
           yours
           (
           and
           I
           could
           wish
           of
           any
           other
           mans
           )
           as
           (
           for
           ought
           I
           know
           ,
           )
           it
           had
           its
           beginning
           .
           And
           that
           since
           he
           thinks
           
             of
             being
             a
             Sacrifice
          
           ,
           he
           may
           only
           burn
           gently
           in
           his
           own
           flame
           ,
           which
           he
           may
           moderate
           as
           he
           please
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           will
           seasonably
           extinguish
           ,
           before
           he
           have
           suffered
           much
           harm
           by
           it
           .
        
         
           For
           the
           qualifying
           of
           
             your
             own
             too
             great
             resentment
             and
             Offence
          
           ;
           I
           would
           have
           you
           consider
           how
           great
           reason
           you
           have
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           this
           blow
           came
           only
           from
           the
           (
           somewhat
           misgovern'd
           )
           hand
           of
           a
           pious
           and
           good
           man.
           Be
           it
           far
           from
           you
           to
           imagine
           otherwise
           .
           If
           you
           think
           he
           was
           to
           blame
           for
           intimating
           suspicions
           of
           their
           sincerity
           whom
           he
           opposes
           ,
           make
           not
           yourself
           equally
           blameable
           ,
           by
           admitting
           ,
           hereupon
           ,
           any
           ,
           concerning
           his
           .
           Which
           would
           argue
           a
           mean
           narrow
           spirit
           ,
           and
           a
           most
           unwarrantable
           fondness
           of
           a
           party
           ,
           as
           if
           all
           true
           Religion
           and
           Godliness
           were
           bound
           up
           in
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           it
           look
           unlovely
           in
           your
           eyes
           to
           see
           one
           of
           much
           avowed
           latitude
           and
           enlargedness
           of
           mind
           ,
           and
           capable
           upon
           that
           account
           of
           being
           the
           more
           universally
           serviceable
           to
           the
           Christian
           Chuch
           ,
           forsaking
           
             that
             comprehensive
             interest
          
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           to
           be
           
             ingulft
             into
             a
             party
          
           upon
           
             a
             private
             and
             distinct
             basis
          
           ,
           consider
           what
           aspect
           the
           same
           thing
           would
           have
           in
           yourself
           .
           And
           never
           make
           his
           difference
           with
           you
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           a
           reason
           to
           yourself
           of
           an
           hard
           judgment
           concerning
           him
           ;
           who
           can
           ,
           you
           must
           consider
           ,
           differ
           no
           more
           from
           us
           ,
           than
           we
           do
           from
           him
           .
        
         
           Beleive
           him
           ,
           
             in
             the
             substance
          
           of
           what
           he
           said
           ,
           to
           speak-according
           to
           his
           present
           judgment
           .
           Think
           how
           gradually
           
           and
           insensibly
           mens
           judgments
           alter
           ,
           and
           are
           formed
           by
           their
           converse
           .
           That
           his
           circumstances
           have
           made
           it
           necessary
           to
           him
           to
           converse
           most
           for
           a
           long
           time
           ,
           with
           those
           who
           are
           fully
           of
           that
           mind
           which
           he
           here
           discovers
           ,
           that
           his
           own
           real
           worth
           must
           have
           drawn
           into
           his
           acquaintance
           the
           best
           and
           most
           valuable
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           such
           for
           whom
           he
           might
           not
           only
           have
           a
           kindness
           ,
           but
           a
           reverence
           ;
           and
           who
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           must
           have
           the
           more
           power
           and
           influence
           upon
           him
           ,
           to
           conform
           his
           sentiments
           to
           their
           own
           .
        
         
           We
           ourselves
           do
           not
           know
           ,
           had
           we
           been
           ,
           by
           our
           circumstances
           ,
           led
           to
           associate
           and
           converse
           mostly
           with
           men
           of
           another
           judgment
           ,
           what
           our
           own
           would
           have
           been
           .
           And
           they
           that
           are
           wont
           to
           discover
           most
           confidence
           of
           themselves
           ,
           do
           usually
           but
           discover
           most
           ignorance
           of
           the
           
             nature
             of
             man
          
           ;
           and
           how
           little
           they
           consider
           the
           power
           of
           external
           objects
           and
           inducements
           to
           draw
           mens
           minds
           this
           way
           or
           that
           .
           Nor
           indeed
           ,
           as
           to
           matters
           of
           this
           nature
           ,
           can
           any
           man
           be
           confident
           that
           the
           
             Grace
             of
             God
          
           shall
           certainly
           incline
           him
           to
           be
           of
           this
           ,
           or
           another
           opinion
           or
           practice
           in
           these
           matters
           ;
           because
           we
           find
           those
           that
           we
           have
           reason
           to
           believe
           have
           great
           assistances
           of
           divine
           grace
           are
           divided
           about
           them
           ,
           and
           go
           not
           all
           one
           way
           .
        
         
           We
           may
           indeed
           be
           confident
           that
           had
           
             the
             same
             considerations
          
           occur'd
           to
           us
           which
           have
           ,
           we
           should
           have
           been
           of
           the
           same
           mind
           and
           judgment
           that
           we
           are
           .
           But
           it
           is
           very
           supposable
           that
           some
           accidental
           occasions
           might
           possibly
           have
           happened
           ,
           that
           might
           hinder
           
             our
             actual
             taking
             up
             such
             considerations
             ,
          
           though
           the
           things
           to
           be
           considered
           were
           not
           unknown
           to
           us
           .
           And
           not
           that
           only
           ,
           but
           that
           might
           
             prevent
             our
             knowing
          
           ,
           even
           matters
           of
           Fact
           ,
           that
           have
           signify'd
           not
           a
           little
           to
           the
           determining
           our
           judgments
           that
           way
           which
           they
           now
           incline
           to
           .
        
         
           And
           I
           do
           particularly
           believe
           (
           as
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           God
           is
           graciously
           present
           with
           those
           that
           in
           the
           sincerity
           of
           
           their
           hearts
           have
           chosen
           to
           serve
           him
           in
           the
           way
           which
           the
           Law
           prescribes
           so
           )
           that
           if
           Doctor
           St.
           had
           known
           what
           Proofs
           there
           are
           of
           
             that
             same
             gracious
             presence
          
           ,
           in
           these
           so
           much
           censured
           Meetings
           ,
           his
           thoughts
           would
           have
           been
           very
           different
           of
           them
           from
           what
           they
           are
           .
           I
           do
           not
           speak
           of
           proselyting
           men
           to
           a
           Party
           ,
           which
           I
           heartily
           despise
           as
           a
           mean
           and
           inconsiderable
           thing
           :
           But
           have
           known
           some
           ,
           and
           heard
           of
           many
           Instances
           of
           very
           ignorant
           and
           profane
           persons
           ,
           that
           have
           been
           led
           ,
           perhaps
           by
           their
           own
           curiosity
           ,
           or
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           by
           the
           perswasion
           of
           some
           Neighbour
           or
           Friend
           ,
           to
           hear
           and
           see
           what
           was
           done
           in
           such
           Meetings
           ,
           that
           have
           (
           through
           Gods
           blessing
           ,
           upon
           so
           despised
           means
           )
           become
           very
           much
           reformed
           men
           ,
           and
           (
           for
           ought
           that
           could
           be
           judged
           )
           serious
           and
           sincere
           Christians
           .
           And
           whereas
           some
           ,
           that
           have
           very
           prejudicial
           thoughts
           of
           all
           that
           frequent
           such
           Meetings
           ,
           may
           be
           apt
           to
           suspect
           all
           effects
           of
           that
           kind
           ,
           to
           be
           nothing
           else
           but
           illusions
           of
           fancy
           ,
           or
           a
           disposition
           (
           at
           least
           )
           to
           Enthusiasm
           ,
           or
           an
           artificial
           and
           industrious
           hypocrisie
           ;
           I
           am
           very
           confident
           that
           if
           the
           Doctor
           had
           had
           the
           opportunity
           ,
           frequently
           to
           observe
           and
           converse
           with
           such
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           had
           ,
           and
           heard
           the
           sobriety
           and
           consistency
           of
           their
           discourse
           ,
           and
           seen
           the
           unaffected
           simplicity
           ,
           humility
           ,
           and
           heavenliness
           of
           their
           conversation
           ,
           he
           could
           not
           have
           allow'd
           himself
           the
           liberty
           of
           such
           hard
           censures
           ,
           but
           would
           have
           judged
           of
           many
           such
           persons
           as
           you
           and
           I
           do
           .
        
         
           Upon
           supposition
           of
           all
           which
           ,
           I
           make
           little
           question
           but
           it
           would
           have
           been
           very
           remote
           from
           him
           to
           wish
           that
           so
           many
           persons
           had
           rather
           lived
           in
           sin
           ,
           and
           perished
           forever
           ;
           than
           have
           been
           brought
           to
           repentance
           and
           a
           good
           life
           ,
           by
           being
           now
           and
           then
           at
           a
           separate
           Meeting
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           
             for
             the
             substance
             of
             what
             he
             hath
             said
             against
             such
             Meetings
             ,
          
           we
           have
           reason
           to
           impute
           it
           to
           his
           judgment
           ;
           and
           his
           judgment
           to
           such
           circumstances
           ,
           very
           much
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           
           mentioned
           ,
           that
           have
           led
           him
           the
           way
           he
           hath
           taken
           ;
           and
           not
           given
           him
           opportunity
           to
           know
           what
           might
           have
           begot
           a
           better
           opinion
           in
           him
           of
           the
           way
           which
           he
           opposes
           .
        
         
           But
           
             for
             the
             manner
          
           of
           his
           treating
           of
           this
           subject
           ,
           That
           I
           impute
           to
           the
           prevalency
           of
           some
           present
           temptation
           ;
           and
           hope
           he
           did
           not
           express
           in
           that
           Sermon
           his
           
             habitual
             temper
          
           .
           And
           am
           highly
           confident
           ,
           notwithstanding
           what
           he
           hath
           said
           in
           it
           ;
           if
           it
           were
           in
           his
           power
           ,
           we
           might
           even
           safely
           trust
           him
           to
           prescribe
           us
           terms
           ,
           and
           should
           receive
           no
           hard
           ones
           from
           him
           .
        
         
           Somewhat
           it
           is
           likely
           he
           was
           expected
           (
           and
           might
           be
           urged
           )
           to
           say
           to
           this
           business
           .
           And
           his
           own
           thoughts
           ,
           being
           set
           a
           work
           ,
           fermented
           into
           an
           intemperate
           heat
           ,
           which
           it
           is
           to
           be
           hoped
           ,
           will
           in
           time
           evaporate
           .
        
         
           If
           I
           may
           freely
           speak
           to
           you
           my
           own
           thoughts
           ,
           he
           seems
           to
           deal
           in
           this
           business
           as
           one
           that
           
             forced
             himself
          
           to
           say
           somewhat
           .
           For
           though
           I
           apprehend
           he
           speaks
           his
           judgment
           ,
           yet
           the
           expressing
           it
           in
           this
           time
           and
           manner
           he
           might
           regret
           .
           And
           because
           it
           might
           appear
           a
           becoming
           thing
           to
           him
           to
           seem
           earnest
           ;
           The
           temptation
           prevailed
           with
           him
           (
           against
           his
           habitual
           inclination
           )
           to
           supply
           with
           sharpness
           ,
           the
           defect
           of
           reason
           ;
           which
           the
           poverty
           of
           the
           Cause
           afforded
           not
           .
           For
           realy
           his
           reasonings
           are
           faint
           ,
           unconcluding
           ,
           and
           unlike
           Doctor
           Stillingfleet
           .
           So
           that
           if
           any
           expected
           this
           performance
           from
           him
           ,
           one
           may
           think
           (
           and
           this
           ought
           in
           some
           part
           to
           excuse
           him
           )
           that
           ,
           besides
           some
           little
           flourishes
           of
           his
           reading
           and
           wit
           ,
           he
           seems
           only
           to
           have
           lent
           them
           his
           name
           .
           Which
           however
           I
           pray
           you
           let
           still
           be
           of
           great
           value
           with
           you
           .
           And
           turn
           your
           displeasure
           into
           serious
           earnest
           praying
           for
           him
           ,
           that
           his
           spirit
           may
           not
           be
           further
           harm'd
           ;
           that
           ,
           amidst
           his
           many
           temptations
           ,
           he
           may
           be
           delivered
           and
           preserved
           from
           being
           at
           all
           puft
           up
           or
           any
           way
           imbittered
           ,
           and
           that
           so
           valuable
           a
           person
           be
           not
           lost
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           least
           degree
           ,
           rendred
           less
           useful
           to
           the
           Church
           
           of
           God.
           And
           that
           all
           that
           know
           his
           more
           inward
           conversation
           may
           discern
           in
           his
           frequent
           favoury
           discourses
           ,
           in
           his
           continued
           serious
           calling
           upon
           God
           in
           his
           family
           ,
           in
           his
           readiness
           to
           do
           good
           ,
           especially
           to
           the
           souls
           of
           men
           ,
           in
           his
           aptness
           to
           condescend
           to
           those
           that
           are
           much
           beneath
           him
           ,
           how
           great
           the
           Efficacy
           is
           ,
           of
           
             divine
             Grace
          
           .
           And
           that
           ,
           through
           the
           power
           of
           it
           ,
           a
           great
           measure
           of
           Wit
           ,
           learning
           ,
           applause
           ,
           and
           secular
           advantages
           ,
           may
           not
           only
           consist
           with
           vivid
           godliness
           ,
           and
           sincere
           devotedness
           to
           the
           Interest
           of
           Religion
           ,
           but
           contribute
           abundantly
           to
           the
           service
           and
           diffusion
           thereof
           in
           the
           World.
           
             I
             am
             very
             serious
          
           in
           this
           advice
           to
           you
           .
           Nor
           ,
           thanks
           be
           to
           God
           ,
           have
           so
           low
           or
           profane
           thoughts
           of
           prayer
           (
           which
           hath
           ever
           born
           so
           great
           a
           part
           in
           the
           Religion
           of
           all
           times
           ,
           nations
           ,
           and
           sorts
           of
           men
           )
           as
           to
           think
           it
           will
           signifie
           nothing
           .
           Especially
           when
           the
           design
           of
           it
           is
           not
           mean
           and
           private
           ,
           but
           such
           wherein
           all
           good
           men
           will
           Unite
           .
        
         
           I
           little
           doubt
           but
           if
           ever
           there
           shall
           be
           good
           days
           ,
           and
           an
           happy
           state
           of
           things
           on
           Earth
           ,
           a
           factious
           Zeal
           for
           Parties
           will
           become
           a
           contemptible
           thing
           :
           And
           all
           the
           discriminative
           Accretions
           to
           Religion
           ,
           which
           are
           severally
           scandalous
           to
           all
           other
           Parties
           except
           their
           own
           ,
           who
           embrace
           any
           sort
           of
           them
           (
           too
           probably
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           some
           secular
           interest
           or
           other
           which
           is
           hoped
           to
           be
           gratified
           and
           engaged
           thereby
           )
           will
           be
           spontaneously
           quitted
           and
           abandoned
           by
           all
           Parties
           from
           an
           over-powring
           sense
           and
           grateful
           relish
           of
           substantial
           Religion
           it self
           ;
           i.
           e.
           
             Entire
             devotedness
             to
             God
             and
             the
             Redeemer
             ,
             with
             the
             joyful
             expectation
             of
             the
             blessedness
             of
             the
             other
             World
             :
          
           And
           so
           all
           become
           one
           .
        
         
           But
           is
           this
           to
           be
           done
           while
           we
           sleep
           and
           do
           nothing
           ?
           Or
           have
           we
           in
           our
           Circumstances
           ,
           any
           thing
           to
           do
           ,
           by
           which
           we
           may
           hope
           to
           contribute
           so
           much
           towards
           it
           
             as
             by
             Prayer
          
           ?
           By
           this
           means
           (
           if
           men
           of
           sincere
           and
           pious
           
           Minds
           ,
           did
           with
           universal
           and
           abstracted
           Aims
           ,
           apply
           themselves
           to
           this
           great
           Duty
           )
           we
           are
           to
           reckon
           the
           blessed
           Spirit
           of
           
             Holiness
             ,
             love
          
           ,
           and
           peace
           ,
           would
           be
           more
           and
           more
           drawn
           
             into
             consent
          
           .
           Do
           you
           your
           own
           part
           herein
           ,
           you
           will
           find
           your
           own
           present
           advantage
           by
           it
           :
           It
           will
           fill
           you
           with
           good
           thoughts
           ,
           hopes
           ,
           and
           expectations
           .
           The
           kindly
           benign
           influences
           whereof
           ,
           will
           pleasantly
           qualifie
           and
           temper
           your
           Spirit
           ;
           and
           make
           you
           know
           how
           much
           more
           grateful
           an
           Inhabitant
           that
           Charity
           is
           ,
           which
           thinketh
           no
           evil
           ,
           beareth
           all
           things
           ,
           believeth
           all
           things
           ,
           hopeth
           all
           things
           ,
           endureth
           all
           things
           ,
           than
           frowardness
           ,
           discontent
           ,
           vexation
           ,
           and
           anger
           ,
           at
           any
           one
           that
           thinks
           and
           speaks
           otherwise
           ,
           than
           you
           did
           expect
           or
           wish
           .
           Insist
           upon
           such
           things
           in
           Prayer
           ,
           as
           wherein
           it
           may
           reasonably
           be
           expected
           good
           men
           shall
           generally
           agree
           with
           you
           .
           You
           have
           the
           more
           reason
           to
           expect
           being
           heard
           ;
           yea
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           hope
           the
           Spirit
           of
           this
           Person
           ,
           whom
           you
           have
           taken
           such
           offence
           at
           ,
           will
           be
           rescued
           out
           of
           temptation
           ,
           and
           be
           drawn
           into
           
             full
             consent
          
           with
           you
           .
           For
           you
           have
           no
           cause
           to
           doubt
           ,
           but
           that
           he
           hath
           those
           Principles
           wrought
           into
           the
           temper
           of
           his
           Mind
           ,
           which
           need
           only
           resuscitation
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           dispose
           him
           to
           union
           with
           the
           whole
           body
           of
           sober
           and
           serious
           Christians
           of
           his
           own
           way
           ,
           or
           of
           others
           ,
           (
           whensoever
           that
           can
           be
           seasonably
           endeavoured
           for
           )
           upon
           more
           probable
           and
           hopeful
           terms
           than
           he
           hath
           proposed
           in
           this
           Sermon
           .
           
             Therefore
             be
             you
             serious
             and
             fervent
          
           in
           Requests
           
             to
             this
             purpose
          
           ,
           as
           you
           have
           that
           love
           to
           God
           and
           his
           Church
           ,
           which
           you
           profess
           ;
           and
           that
           value
           for
           this
           worthy
           Person
           which
           I
           reckon
           you
           still
           ought
           to
           have
           :
           or
           (
           if
           that
           can
           be
           fit
           to
           be
           added
           )
           any
           kindness
           for
           ▪
        
         
           
             Sir
             ,
             Your
             affectionate
             Servant
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
      
       
         
         
           SInce
           my
           writing
           these
           Pages
           ,
           I
           hear
           of
           Answers
           to
           the
           Dean's
           Sermon
           ;
           which
           ,
           in
           so
           remote
           a
           Corner
           ,
           I
           have
           had
           no
           opportunity
           to
           see
           :
           What
           is
           here
           written
           may
           therefore
           (
           upon
           comparing
           )
           be
           communicated
           ,
           or
           suppressed
           ,
           as
           shall
           be
           thought
           fit
           .
        
         
           And
           so
           I
           should
           take
           leave
           of
           you
           ,
           but
           that
           it
           may
           be
           needful
           ,
           whereas
           I
           have
           principally
           considered
           in
           these
           Papers
           ,
           the
           case
           of
           such
           as
           think
           it
           unlawful
           to
           joyn
           in
           the
           publick
           Assemblies
           ;
           to
           add
           somewhat
           (
           whomsoever
           it
           may
           serve
           )
           in
           reference
           to
           their
           case
           that
           think
           otherwise
           .
           For
           to
           say
           the
           truth
           ,
           this
           is
           here
           the
           more
           common
           case
           :
           And
           though
           the
           Doctor
           believes
           they
           that
           frequent
           the
           
             separate
             Meetings
          
           ,
           do
           generally
           judge
           it
           unlawful
           to
           joyn
           in
           the
           Publick
           ;
           Howsoever
           it
           is
           with
           you
           ,
           (
           and
           it
           is
           likely
           the
           Doctor
           speaks
           of
           what
           is
           more
           within
           the
           compass
           of
           his
           own
           knowledge
           ,
           or
           theirs
           who
           inform
           him
           :
           )
           It
           is
           
             with
             us
             in
             this
             part
             of
             this
             Country
          
           quite
           contrary
           .
           And
           I
           may
           truly
           say
           ,
           that
           
             in
             this
             place
          
           (
           and
           others
           where
           I
           have
           sometimes
           occasionally
           been
           )
           the
           generality
           of
           them
           who
           come
           to
           the
           other
           Meetings
           do
           also
           attend
           the
           Publick
           .
        
         
           Now
           these
           may
           perhaps
           think
           themselves
           left
           under
           blame
           .
           and
           may
           apprehend
           the
           Doctors
           Consequence
           is
           strong
           against
           them
           ,
           [
           that
           if
           occasional
           Communion
           be
           lawful
           ,
           constant
           Communion
           must
           be
           a
           Duty
           :
           ]
           Which
           he
           no
           doubt
           ,
           understands
           exclusively
           of
           any
           distinct
           way
           of
           Communion
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           indeed
           they
           judge
           that
           Consequence
           strong
           ,
           I
           would
           fain
           know
           what
           hurt
           they
           can
           think
           it
           doth
           them
           ?
           Why
           should
           any
           man
           be
           afraid
           of
           
             his
             duty
          
           ?
           or
           of
           
             the
             truth
          
           which
           makes
           it
           known
           ?
           And
           ,
           if
           hereupon
           ,
           they
           
           can
           ,
           with
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           their
           own
           Consciences
           ,
           wave
           ▪
           all
           other
           opportunities
           of
           worshipping
           God
           with
           others
           of
           his
           People
           ,
           they
           have
           the
           less
           to
           do
           :
           And
           why
           should
           they
           complain
           who
           are
           satisfy'd
           ?
        
         
           But
           in
           short
           ,
           either
           they
           apprehend
           such
           other
           additional
           means
           ,
           a
           real
           necessary
           help
           and
           advantage
           to
           them
           ,
           or
           they
           do
           not
           .
           
             If
             they
             do
             not
          
           ,
           they
           have
           no
           cause
           to
           trouble
           themselves
           ,
           nor
           to
           grudge
           that
           so
           much
           is
           said
           for
           others
           ;
           Whose
           ,
           for
           ought
           I
           know
           ,
           may
           ,
           as
           the
           Doctor
           thinks
           ,
           (
           for
           I
           cannot
           make
           an
           estimate
           from
           this
           or
           that
           little
           spot
           )
           be
           the
           much
           more
           common
           case
           .
           
             If
             they
             do
          
           ,
           they
           have
           little
           reason
           to
           be
           concern'd
           about
           the
           Doctors
           Consequence
           :
           Which
           I
           much
           wonder
           if
           he
           himself
           can
           think
           strong
           .
           It
           hath
           not
           ,
           you
           see
           ,
           been
           altogether
           overlook't
           in
           the
           foregoing
           Discourse
           :
           And
           if
           any
           feel
           themselves
           wounded
           by
           it
           ;
           He
           is
           so
           great
           an
           Achilles
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           have
           their
           Wound
           and
           Healing
           from
           the
           same
           Hand
           .
        
         
           For
           ,
           as
           hath
           been
           noted
           from
           him
           in
           his
           Preface
           to
           the
           Irenicum
           ,
           he
           seems
           plainly
           to
           intimate
           ,
           that
           
             men
             have
             no
             Charter
          
           ,
           or
           
             Grant
             of
             Divine
             Power
          
           ,
           to
           make
           other
           Conditions
           of
           Church-Communion
           than
           Christ
           hath
           made
           ▪
           If
           so
           ,
           then
           
             the
             Conditions
          
           by
           which
           
             this
             way
             of
             Communion
          
           is
           distinguished
           from
           the
           other
           ,
           (
           supposing
           they
           be
           lawful
           )
           are
           still
           ,
           
             in
             themselves
             ,
             matter
             of
             liberty
             ,
          
           not
           
             of
             duty
          
           :
           And
           so
           't
           is
           left
           to
           the
           prudence
           of
           a
           Christian
           to
           determine
           him
           (
           as
           in
           all
           like
           cases
           )
           this
           way
           or
           that
           ;
           as
           will
           make
           most
           for
           the
           common
           good
           ,
           consistently
           with
           that
           of
           his
           own
           Soul.
           
             That
             is
             Sin
          
           or
           Duty
           ,
           which
           in
           this
           or
           that
           case
           ,
           will
           do
           more
           hurt
           or
           good
           .
           There
           being
           no
           particular
           rule
           to
           guide
           a
           mans
           practice
           ,
           he
           must
           have
           recourse
           to
           that
           general
           one
           :
           
             By
             which
          
           it
           may
           be
           my
           duty
           ,
           upon
           some
           great
           reason
           ,
           to
           do
           that
           ,
           
             at
             one
             time
          
           ;
           which
           for
           as
           great
           reason
           ,
           I
           ought
           not
           to
           do
           in
           a
           continued
           course
           .
           And
           it
           is
           highly
           
           commendable
           ,
           when
           a
           Christian
           understands
           the
           latitude
           which
           the
           
             Law
             of
             Christ
          
           hath
           left
           him
           ;
           Is
           ,
           in
           his
           own
           Spirit
           ,
           exempt
           from
           servile
           restraints
           ,
           by
           other
           imagined
           bonds
           :
           And
           can
           with
           a
           generous
           liberty
           (
           pure
           from
           base
           self-respects
           )
           turn
           himself
           this
           way
           or
           that
           ,
           as
           shall
           make
           most
           for
           the
           service
           of
           the
           ends
           he
           lives
           for
           .
           And
           when
           any
           accordingly
           use
           that
           liberty
           ,
           't
           is
           a
           fancy
           of
           none
           but
           half-witted
           persons
           ,
           to
           think
           they
           must
           therefore
           addict
           themselves
           to
           this
           or
           that
           Party
           .
        
         
           If
           a
           mans
           case
           come
           to
           be
           so
           stated
           ,
           that
           he
           hath
           reason
           to
           apprehend
           it
           will
           do
           more
           good
           than
           hurt
           
             to
             others
          
           ,
           that
           he
           own
           a
           sort
           of
           Christians
           ,
           who
           have
           particularly
           modified
           themselves
           ,
           otherwise
           than
           they
           needed
           ,
           by
           any
           divine
           injunction
           (
           or
           by
           any
           that
           God
           hath
           empowr'd
           men
           to
           put
           them
           under
           )
           by
           communicating
           with
           them
           
             under
             the
             common
             notion
             of
             Christians
             ,
          
           only
           ,
           not
           
             as
             so
             modified
          
           :
           He
           doth
           but
           express
           the
           genuine
           complexion
           of
           a
           truly
           Christian
           Spirit
           .
           But
           he
           is
           not
           to
           do
           so
           
             in
             a
             continued
             course
          
           ,
           if
           he
           find
           it
           will
           be
           a
           real
           damage
           to
           his
           own
           soul
           ,
           in
           comparison
           of
           another
           way
           that
           he
           finds
           more
           edifying
           .
           Perhaps
           if
           he
           will
           be
           religious
           only
           ,
           after
           the
           mode
           of
           this
           or
           that
           party
           ,
           his
           Fare
           may
           be
           either
           too
           fine
           or
           too
           course
           for
           his
           constant
           diet
           .
           I
           may
           ,
           besides
           my
           own
           inclination
           ,
           drink
           a
           single
           glass
           of
           Wine
           out
           of
           Civility
           to
           one
           person
           ,
           or
           of
           Water
           ,
           to
           another
           ,
           when
           I
           am
           not
           ,
           for
           any
           mans
           pleasure
           ,
           to
           destroy
           my
           health
           by
           tying
           my self
           to
           drink
           nothing
           else
           .
           And
           whatever
           Christian
           condescendingness
           ,
           and
           goodness
           of
           temper
           may
           prompt
           a
           man
           to
           ,
           who
           makes
           not
           
             what
             others
             do
          
           ,
           but
           
             what
             they
             ought
             to
             do
          
           his
           rule
           and
           measure
           :
           They
           have
           least
           reason
           to
           expect
           much
           compliance
           from
           others
           ,
           who
           bind
           themselves
           up
           within
           their
           own
           party
           ,
           are
           enwrapt
           as
           Leviathan
           in
           his
           Scales
           ,
           call
           themselves
           
             the
             Church
          
           (
           as
           many
           say
           here
           is
           Christ
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           Christ
           )
           and
           call
           all
           men
           Separatists
           that
           will
           not
           be
           of
           
             their
             Church
          
           .
           And
           perhaps
           they
           assume
           ,
           
           and
           appropriate
           the
           name
           with
           no
           more
           pretence
           or
           colour
           ,
           and
           with
           no
           better
           sense
           ,
           than
           if
           an
           humorsom
           company
           of
           men
           ,
           should
           distinguish
           themselves
           from
           others
           ,
           by
           wearing
           a
           blue
           or
           a
           yellow
           girdle
           ,
           
             and
             call
             themselves
             mankind
          
           !
           Do
           not
           too
           many
           in
           our
           daies
           distinguish
           their
           Church
           and
           Christian
           Communion
           ,
           by
           things
           no
           more
           belonging
           to
           a
           Church
           ,
           or
           to
           Christianity
           ,
           than
           a
           girdle
           of
           this
           or
           that
           colour
           to
           humane
           Nature
           ?
           And
           which
           no
           more
           qualify
           for
           
             Christian
             Society
          
           ,
           than
           that
           doth
           for
           human
           ?
           If
           however
           ,
           an
           ingenuous
           ,
           free
           spirited
           man
           ,
           out
           of
           respect
           to
           his
           present
           company
           ,
           or
           for
           any
           other
           valuable
           reason
           ,
           should
           in
           such
           a
           case
           put
           on
           a
           blue
           girdle
           ,
           I
           shall
           find
           no
           fault
           with
           him
           .
           But
           if
           any
           should
           go
           about
           to
           pinch
           him
           too
           close
           with
           it
           ,
           so
           as
           would
           be
           inconvenient
           to
           his
           ease
           and
           health
           ,
           or
           oblige
           him
           to
           protest
           against
           the
           
             true
             humanity
          
           of
           all
           that
           neglect
           it
           ,
           I
           doubt
           not
           he
           would
           throw
           it
           away
           with
           scorn
           .
           Much
           less
           would
           he
           be
           a
           consederate
           with
           them
           that
           use
           it
           ,
           if
           they
           professedly
           combine
           for
           the
           destruction
           of
           the
           rest
           of
           mankind
           that
           use
           it
           not
           ,
           when
           many
           of
           them
           that
           refuse
           it
           apprehend
           it
           a
           real
           grievance
           .
           Especially
           ,
           when
           they
           that
           would
           impose
           it
           ,
           live
           ,
           with
           many
           of
           the
           rest
           ,
           under
           the
           Government
           of
           a
           just
           and
           sovereign
           Prince
           ,
           from
           whom
           they
           have
           no
           Charter
           for
           their
           imposition
           ,
           but
           who
           hath
           declared
           he
           will
           not
           have
           his
           subjects
           so
           impos'd
           upon
           .
        
         
           In
           sum
           ,
           we
           are
           all
           indispensably
           oblig'd
           by
           our
           Lord
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           the
           sovereign
           Prince
           and
           Ruler
           of
           his
           Church
           ,
           
             to
             the
             substance
             of
          
           all
           Christian
           Ordinances
           .
           As
           to
           
             uninstituted
             modes
             thereof
          
           ,
           we
           are
           free
           .
           And
           they
           that
           understand
           their
           liberty
           ,
           may
           use
           or
           not
           use
           them
           as
           is
           more
           for
           their
           own
           ,
           and
           the
           common
           good
           .
           They
           that
           understand
           it
           not
           ,
           and
           think
           themselves
           under
           an
           obligation
           from
           Christ
           not
           to
           admit
           questionable
           ,
           devised
           additions
           into
           their
           worship
           ;
           they
           are
           not
           therefore
           to
           deprive
           themselves
           of
           the
           
           
             substantial
             Ordinances
          
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           whereof
           there
           is
           no
           question
           .
        
         
           
             I
             shut
             up
             all
             with
             the
             words
             of
             the
             great
             Apostle
             ,
             Rom.
             14.
          
           3.
           4.
           
           One
           beleiveth
           that
           he
           may
           eat
           all
           things
           :
           another
           ,
           who
           is
           weak
           ,
           eateth
           herbs
           .
           Let
           not
           him
           that
           eateth
           despise
           him
           that
           eateth
           not
           ,
           for
           God
           hath
           received
           him
           .
           v.
           13.
           
           Let
           us
           not
           therefore
           judge
           one
           another
           any
           more
           :
           but
           judge
           this
           rather
           ,
           that
           no
           man
           put
           a
           stumbling
           block
           ,
           or
           an
           occasion
           to
           fall
           in
           his
           brothers
           way
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           Errata
           .
        
         
           PAge
           2.
           l.
           4.
           after
           may
           ,
           r.
           
             by
             dependence
             on
             divine
             help
          
           ,
           p.
           3.
           l.
           21.
           r.
           reverent
           ,
           p.
           6.
           l.
           19.
           r.
           Assemblies
           ,
           p.
           7.
           l.
           27.
           r.
           supposes
           ,
           p.
           9.
           l.
           2.
           r.
           One
           ,
           l.
           5.
           r.
           design
           ,
           p.
           13.
           l.
           9.
           r.
           were
           ,
           p.
           22.
           l.
           13.
           r.
           become
           ,
           p.
           25.
           l.
           1.
           after
           according
           ,
           r.
           to
           ,
           p.
           26.
           l.
           23.
           after
           government
           ,
           r.
           these
           words
           ,
           
             as
             we
             suppose
             he
             means
          
           ,
           blot
           them
           out
           in
           l.
           24.
           p.
           29.
           l.
           24
           r.
           separate
           ,
           p.
           33.
           l.
           3.
           r.
           inclination
           ,
           p.
           34.
           l.
           18.
           r.
           obliged
           ,
           p.
           36.
           l.
           23.
           r.
           impracticable
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           SAMUEL
           WALSALL
           ,
           at
           the
           Golden
           Frying-Pan
           in
           Leaden-Hall-Street
           ,
           1680.
           
        
         
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A44665-e140
           
             *
             Sermon
             on
             Josh.
             24.
             15.